France extends coronavirus booster shots for all adults

PARIS

A coronavirus booster shot will be mandatory for all adults in France to enter public venues like restaurants, cafes, cinemas and museums beginning next year, Health Minister Olivier Veran said Thursday.

Veran ruled out news restrictions, including "confinement, curfew, early closure of shops, or limitation of movement," at a news conference to unveil the measures amid rising coronavirus cases.

"We have the tools to fight this fifth wave. We can succeed in crossing this wave without further constraints for the population," he said while announcing that the booster shot would be open from Saturday for all adults, five months after their last injection.
In the absence of the third shot, the health pass -- digital proof of vaccination or negative RT-PCR test result for entry in public and social places -- will be invalid from Jan. 15, added Veran.

To push the 6 million unvaccinated people toward getting the jab, the government also reduced the validity of RT-PCR tests to 24 hours beginning Nov. 29.

Earlier, those who are unvaccinated could gain access to the health pass to enter restaurants or take long-distance trains and flights through RT-PCR tests taken 72 hours in advance.

Wearing face masks will also be compulsory from Nov. 26, in all enclosed settings, public places and large venues like outdoor Christmas markets.