Macron: ‘Too early to say’ if health pass needed after November 15

The health pass could be required in France beyond November 15, President Emmanuel Macron has said but “it is still too early to say” for sure.

The president said that he had not ruled out requiring the health pass to access most public places beyond the current expected date.

Speaking at a press conference in Marseille yesterday (September 2), he said: “If the epidemic is still present in the weeks to come, we must allow this to be a possibility for the most-affected areas.”

Such an extension would require parliamentary approval and the creation of legislation to allow it.

Mr Macron added that the health pass “allows us to avoid closing things”.

He said: “It’s because of the health pass that we no longer need to close restaurants, cafes, theatres, cinemas, entertainment venues, or sporting activities.”

In early August, Health Minister Olivier Véran also suggested that the date of November 15 could be extended if necessary.

The health pass has been required in France since July 21 (then for access to public places with a capacity for at least 50 people) and from August 9 for access to public places such as restaurants and cafes, and large shopping centres where local authorities have required it as well as all venues covered by the earlier rule, regardless of numbers.

The health pass shows that someone is fully vaccinated against Covid, that they have had a negative test result within the past 72 hours, or that they have fully recovered from Covid in recent months.

Related articles

How to get a French health pass: A guide for residents and visitors

New web portal opens for non-EU tourists to get French Covid QR code

French health pass mandatory for 1.8 million workers