A new COVID health pass has been enforced in France amid a rise in new COVID-19 cases.

People will now need proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery from COVID-19 to have access to most museums and cinemas. Lawmakers will later discuss whether its use has to be extended for entry to cafes, restaurants and shopping malls.

The decision came a day after Health Minister Olivier Véran announced that 18,000 new cases were recorded in a span of 24 hours. He said that Delta variant had resulted in far greater spikes in cases compared to the previous variants. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, had announced the plans for a health pass earlier this month, besides mandatory vaccination for all health workers by the month of September. However, there have been protests against the new rules. Protestors are calling it "Health Dictatorship”… (BBC, July 21, 2021)