‘I never thought this would happen in France’: day one of showing Covid vaccine pass - The Guardian

Showing a health pass or negative PCR test is obligatory if people want to access cultural venues.

There are teething troubles on day one of France’s controversial health pass for accessing public places.

From Wednesday, showing either a health pass, or proof of a negative PCR test dated to within 48 hours, is obligatory in France for anyone wishing to access any cultural or leisure facilities with a capacity of more than 50 people.

Sipping an espresso outside the glass doors of the cinema Diagonal, manager Charlie Pereniguez, 36, points out that the new health pass has already caused a drop in advance ticket sales nationwide.

It’s the kind of debate taking place nationwide, with some protesters who marched against the health pass last weekend wearing yellow Star of David badges, causing huge controversy.

Around 5,500 people took the streets in Montpellier last weekend, one of over 130 protests that gathered just over 110,000 people across the country.

And the health pass has not yet hit the heart of French culture: cafes and restaurants.

Outside L’Odyssée, a bistro near Montpellier’s main station, owner Azak Attila, 41, says checking all his clientele will be unworkable: “Even many of the ones who are vaccinated, they say they’ll refuse to show their pass on principle.” But if he does not do it he could be subject to a penalty of up to €45,000