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Original poster

France pulls out the big guns!

760 replies

NotPregnantJustChubs · 12/07/2021 23:01

I live in France and Macron has just made a speech saying that from the end of July, vaccination or a negative test is going to be compulsory for cultural and entertainment venues. From August, it’ll be compulsory for cafes and restaurants too. This applies to all 12+.

PCR tests will become paid as of September, to encourage vaccination.

I’m already vaccinated, thankfully, and I do think it’s necessary to contain the delta variant. But wowza, I’m waiting to hear the backlash in the morning. Macron is up for reelection next year as well, they must be very desperate to contain this…

OP posts:
Ooodlesofboodles · 13/07/2021 08:28

Sounds like a very sensible policy to me. The risks from covid are far greater than the risks from the vaccines. If you want to socialise etc you need to play your part in society to stop the disease spreading. This is not just about you. Anyone who can be vaccinated should get vaccinated- that is the only way we can protect those who are unable to do so whether for medical or other reasons.
I don't think this policy will be implemented in England as our vaccine take up is very good.
France will be very worried about their economy right now. Macron is doing the right thing.

3asAbird · 13/07/2021 08:28

Well that almost makes impossible uk kids and teens go France on holiday not that I feel anyone in uk should be travelling abroad this year with good reason.

I am nearly double jabbed.
But I accept that transmission happens between double jabbed.
We don't have recovery certificate
So brits only option is 2 vaccines or expensive pcr test.

I wish I could get my 2 teens vaccinated at least so that thier education is not disrupted this autumn and they a bit safer on public transport to school .

Will the vaccines ever be available privately in the UK if we refuse to vaccinate teens?

I'm doubtful macron will win.

We see what happened i Netherlands when they become compared.
Not sure if most eu countries managed pandemic much better they all been crap i different ways.

MarshaBradyo · 13/07/2021 08:29

I don’t think we’ll do it here, if they did it wouldn’t be an issue for me as double vaccinated, but I still can’t see it happening

It light get harder to travel though if unvaccinated

chloworm · 13/07/2021 08:30

@VoiceFaceArse

I have an issue with access to every day activities such as going to a cafe or place of worship being made dependent on health status.

Society as a whole should have an issue with it.

I so agree. No more spontaneous trips out for lunch or coffee. No you are banned from church/mosque etc. as your test is out of date? So utterly coercive and divisive.
Toty · 13/07/2021 08:32

The risks from covid are far greater than the risks from the vaccines.

Not for the young and healthy. Why do you think they stopped using AZ in under 40's? It's not because they're at higher risk of clots (that would be women in their 40's). It's because they were deemed to be at lower risk from covid than the vaccine. That is literally why it is not being used in the young.

AncientandFabulous · 13/07/2021 08:36

Cyprus have done similar. My cousin says you have to present your vaccine card & be either double vaccinated or had single 3 weeks before. If not testing every 72 hours at €10. No evidence, no admittance.

Be interesting to see what happens if/once tourists start going.

Arsebucket · 13/07/2021 08:37

@loulouljh

It is an awful awful plan. People should be really worried about him thinking this is a way forward.
I don’t understand why people aren’t horrified.

Are you really more scared of Covid than a laws like these being passed? People being co etched into taking a vaccine?

Christ almighty.

Arsebucket · 13/07/2021 08:37

Coerced, even

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 13/07/2021 08:38

The risk balance on the AZ vs covid for under 40s has changed hasn’t it? It could go either way when covid level were low now they are high the risk benefit is definitely in favour of getting the vaccine.

usuallydormant · 13/07/2021 08:40

These rules don’t apply to under 12s I understand.

Going to a cafe or restaurant is a choice not an obligation. I’m in France, I think it makes sense. If we want hospitality and leisure to open - and stay open- this is the logical option. And it is crazy for people working in old people’s homes not to be vaccinated.

We’ve had free tests here for everyone, including for travel until now. And if I have to pay for a test while abroad in the EU, it is reimbursed. I think it is fair enough to get people to pay if they refuse to be vaccinated and put the rest of us at risk. Vaccination is not 100% effective so we need as many vaccinated as possible. There are already lots of compulsory vaccinations to go to school for example so there is a precedent.

If people don’t want to get vaccinated, they will have to restrict their options of socializing: the alternative is rolling lockdowns for everyone.

EU residents will have their digital pass to use on holiday. Not France’s fault if the UK chooses to opt out. With choices come consequences. No one wants to end up in the situation the UK is in currently with cases skyrocketing, hopefully this will slow it down a bit.

notimagain · 13/07/2021 08:40

@HilaryThorpe

I think those of us who live here would have a bit more empathy with visitors to France if the UK wasn't refusing to accept our vaccination certificates at all!
Yep, all one way isn’t it…
LoudNowSing · 13/07/2021 08:41

The places you will need a vaccine or test to visit were closed to everyone in lockdown. They will now be open to people who are vaccinated or covid-negative, while still remaining closed to the non-vaccinated or covid-positive. It's not actually obligatory to go to a restaurant or concert. People manage just fine without them.

Ihatefish · 13/07/2021 08:41

I’m pro vaccine, but I’m also v pro choice over bodily autonomy -quite frankly I think this is awful. Suspect a strike is in the offing!

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 13/07/2021 08:43

Are you really more scared of Covid than a laws like these being passed? People being co etched into taking a vaccine?

Christ almighty.

But the alternative is keeping everything closed. Even in the U.K. we don’t yet have enough vaccine coverage to enable everything to open up unrestricted and it not to cause problems.
Either you need to put something like this in place in order to lower the number of infections or you don’t and face another couple if months of everything having to shut again.

Arsebucket · 13/07/2021 08:45

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay

Are you really more scared of Covid than a laws like these being passed? People being co etched into taking a vaccine?

Christ almighty.

But the alternative is keeping everything closed. Even in the U.K. we don’t yet have enough vaccine coverage to enable everything to open up unrestricted and it not to cause problems.
Either you need to put something like this in place in order to lower the number of infections or you don’t and face another couple if months of everything having to shut again.

But where does it end? Ever lasting booster shots that people might not want to keep you passport?
LittleRed53 · 13/07/2021 08:46

The covid pass will also be required for using domestic flights, travelling by train or coach.

As well as shopping centres and any cultural/leisure venue/place with 50 or more capacity.

Whatever way you slice it, for better or worse, this is the start of a two tier society.

DumplingsAndStew · 13/07/2021 08:46

@usuallydormant and any other posters in France,

Are there exceptions for those medically unable to be vaccinated?

schnubbins · 13/07/2021 08:47

Its very much the same here in Germany. No admittance to hotels without Covid Pass or negative Antigen /PCR test. We live in Southern Germany but were in Leipzig last week and at a hotel in at the Austrian German border at the weekend .Covid pass had to be presented at the hotels and at all restaurants and cafes both in Austria and Germany.So it looks as though it will be a Europe wide thing.

TooManyPlatesInMotion · 13/07/2021 08:47

@VoiceFaceArse

I have an issue with access to every day activities such as going to a cafe or place of worship being made dependent on health status.

Society as a whole should have an issue with it.

Yet it scares me that society appears not to have an issue.
Ooodlesofboodles · 13/07/2021 08:48

Sure, so my statement still stands; the risk from covid is greater than the risk from the vaccine. Just because one particular vaccine is not used for one particular age group does not make it any less true. And that may change.
It is very selfish to not get vaccinated. This is not just about protecting you it is about protecting others. If you don't want to do so, that is fine, no one is forcing you, but you don't get to participate without proving you are not infectious. How is that unfair?

chaosrabbitland · 13/07/2021 08:48

@XenoBitch

Well, I'm glad I am not in France then.
same !
VoiceFaceArse · 13/07/2021 08:48

Either you need to put something like this in place in order to lower the number of infections or you don’t and face another couple if months of everything having to shut again.

Put it in place, just don’t charge for the tests. If the aim is to make things safer, that will have the same result. But the sim is to scare people and force them into having the vaccine, that’s why they’re charging for the test. It’s dreadful.

chloworm · 13/07/2021 08:49

[quote DumplingsAndStew]@usuallydormant and any other posters in France,

Are there exceptions for those medically unable to be vaccinated?[/quote]
Yes I would like to know that too.

jasjas1973 · 13/07/2021 08:50

@MarshaBradyo

I don’t think we’ll do it here, if they did it wouldn’t be an issue for me as double vaccinated, but I still can’t see it happening

It light get harder to travel though if unvaccinated

Isn't the govt asking night club owners etc etc to check vaccination status?

"And as a matter of social responsibility we’re urging nightclubs and other venues with large crowds to make use of the NHS Covid Pass - which shows proof of vaccination, a recent negative test or natural immunity – as a means of entry"

So compulsion later?

LittleRed53 · 13/07/2021 08:52

@DumplingsAndStew As far as I've been able to find, there is no provision outlined so far for those medically exempt. It seems they would simply need to also go down the PCR or proof of recent recovery route, like anyone who had chosen not to be vaccinated.

It's not impossible that this could be amended over time, but nothing has been said yet, AFAIK.