Covid pass becomes mandatory in French cafes
August 14 - 2021 Coffee Geography Magazine
The
French capital is seen with cafes having Covid Pass stand at their front
entrance to check everyone for their vaccination documents.
The
government is determined to contain the fourth wave of the infections by setting
such strong public rules. President Emmanuel Macron unveiled the edict last
month with a clear message: get vaccinated.
"It's
simple, we have downloaded an app ... so we scan the QR code of the clients,
and if it's valid, they can enter. And if it's not valid, we cannot serve
them," said Romain Dicrescenzo, manager of the Vrai Paris cafe in the
capital's Montmartre district.
He
said he had turned dozens of people away - some who had forgotten the pass as
well as those who had not been vaccinated.
Cafe
owners who break the rule face a warning followed by a 7-day closure order on
the second infraction. Two further contraventions could lead to a year's jail
time. Few cafes are still seen not following the instruction while the police
is noticed as lenient in the first week of the execution.
Some
other European countries such as Italy have introduced similar health passes,
but France's is the most comprehensive. Opponents of the pass say it impinges
on their freedom and discriminates against those who do not want the COVID
shot.
The
legislation governing the health pass requirements will remain in place until
mid-November. It also demands the mandatory vaccination of health workers.
Health
pass checks were also being carried out at Paris' Gare de Lyon station. Checks
on trains will be random and carried out on one in every four long-distance
trains since Monday, the transport minister said.