Extension of the health pass in France: what are our European neighbors doing?

“The health pass will never be a right of access which differentiates the French. It cannot be compulsory for access to everyday places of life.” These words are those of Emmanuel Macron. Last April, during an interview with the regional press, the President of the Republic firmly rejected the idea of ​​a health pass. But barely two months later, under pressure from the Delta variant, the executive did an about-face.

From July 21, the sanitary pass will be mandatory to access leisure and cultural places bringing together more than 50 people, then from August it will be necessary to sip a coffee, even on the terrace, enjoy a dish of the day at the restaurant or shopping in a mall. And beware of establishments that do not check the QR codes of their customers attesting to a vaccination, a PCR test of less than 48 hours or a recovery from Covid-19 of less than six months: according to the preliminary government bill, they could be punished with a fine of up to 45,000 euros and one year in prison.

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Since Emmanuel Macron’s announcements, accusations of a “health dictatorship” have been spreading on social networks. More than 20,000 people, according to the authorities, demonstrated Wednesday in the name of “freedom” to protest against the announcements of the president.

However, France is far from being an exception in Europe. Health certificates are already a reality for millions of Europeans.

Since May in Denmark

The vast majority of European countries only require a health pass for large events bringing together several hundred people, but several governments have decided to go further by imposing it in places of everyday life.

A pioneer of this type of device, Denmark was the first country in Europe to set up a “Coronapas”. To go to a restaurant, cinema or hairdresser, customers must show this health passport certifying a negative test of less than 72 hours, vaccination or recent recovery from Covid-19.

The health pass has also been part of the daily life of Austrians for almost two months, with rules similar to the Danish “Coronapas”.

In other EU countries, the health pass does not necessarily apply throughout the country. In Germany, this obligation, which is a regional decision, depends on the incidence rate of the epidemic.

The principle is the same in Portugal, where the pass may be required in areas hardest hit by Covid-19. Furthermore, this obligation remains limited to weekend periods.

In Luxembourg, the authorities are relatively flexible since establishments can do without the “CovidCheck”, the local name of the health pass. In this case, they must comply with specific sanitary measures.

As for Greece, it is moving towards a much stricter regime. From Friday until the end of August, all closed places will only be able to accommodate vaccinated people.

France, with its health pass applying in everyday places, throughout the country, even outside, is therefore one of the most restrictive EU countries.

A boost for vaccination?

In countries that have implemented a health pass to access bars or restaurants such as Austria and Denmark, vaccination coverage reaches 43% and 41% respectively. It is better than in France and its 36.5%, but below Spain, of which 45% of the population is fully vaccinated.

By making the vaccine almost unavoidable, the French government wants to believe in a surge among the undecided and recalcitrant and catch up on its European neighbors. According to the Doctolib site, more than two million people have made an appointment to receive a first injection since the head of state’s announcements on Monday evening. But this boost could be short-lived, predicts Yves Coppieters, professor of public health at the Free University of Brussels (ULB), joined by France 24.

“Compelling vaccination to be able to participate in a whole series of social activities will indeed stimulate a certain number of people. This is called passive prevention. In public health, we know that it is is very effective in the short term but it will run out of steam “, analyzes the epidemiologist. “Those who are still hesitant or who are against will not get vaccinated. We must then engage in active prevention, closer to people, and try to convince them with data and clear information.”

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For Yves Coppieters, we should not rely entirely on vaccination to control the epidemic. “We must continue to make the tests accessible. Making them chargeable seems to me to be a mistake. In addition, ensuring the isolation of patients, following up on contact cases, respecting barrier gestures, is also essential. It is by maintaining all of these strategies that we can ensure control of the epidemic in the coming weeks, “assures the Belgian doctor, who believes that the French decision is more political than health.

After France, other European countries could take the path of a health pass extended to bars and restaurants. The question arises in Italy, while the number of contaminations is on the rise again. Ireland should also demand from its fellow citizens a complete vaccination schedule to be able to go to pubs, the reopening of which is scheduled for July 19.