Visitors to France who have been inoculated outside the European Union with approved Covid-19 vaccines may now use a national health pass to enter bars, restaurants, cafes, gyms and other indoor venues, the government said this week. The pass, which went into effect on Monday, is also required for large-scale events like sports games and music festivals and for long-distance train rides and flights in the country. There had been growing concern among non-European Union tourists who planned to vacation in France but feared that they would be excluded from most social activities if their vaccination certificates were not recognized. The pass includes a QR code linking to a web page that shows proof of full vaccination, a recent negative test or recovery from the coronavirus. Similar initiatives have been introduced in countries like Italy and Germany, although France’s approach is one of the strictest in Europe.

Source: New York Times August 10, 2021 17:37 UTC