Protests in France Against New Anti-COVID Measures, Amid Apparent Majority Approval

[Debater Slayer]

Following France's new measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest the new "health pass" requirement:

PARIS (AP) — Some 160,000 people, including far-right activists and members of France’s yellow vest movement, protested Saturday across the country against a bill requiring everyone to have a special virus pass to enter restaurants and mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for all health care workers.

Similar protests were held in neighboring Italy.

Police fired water cannons and tear gas on rowdy protesters in Paris, although most gatherings were orderly.

Of note is that despite the protests from a minority of people, including supporters of the far right and common anti-vax arguments, the majority of the French population are vaccinated and, according to multiple polls, support the new measures:

Most French adults are fully vaccinated and multiple polls indicate a majority of French people support the new measures. But not everyone.

For reference, this is the outline of the requirements for the health pass:

To get the pass, people need to be fully vaccinated, have a recent negative test or have proof they recently recovered from the virus.

French lawmakers are divided over how far to go in imposing health passes or mandatory vaccinations but infections are rising quickly. More than 111,000 people with the virus have died in France, and the country is now seeing about 20,000 new infections a day, up from just a few thousand a day in early July.

More than 2 billion people worldwide have been vaccinated and information about COVID-19 vaccines is now widely available, but many protesters said they felt they were being rushed into something they’re not ready to do.

Source of all excerpts: French protesters reject virus passes, vaccine mandate

Given that a negative COVID test result or proof of recent recovery is enough to get the health pass according to the above summary, vaccination is not even mandatory for the vast majority of people. The measures effectively only exclude people carrying the virus and ones who don't even want to have a COVID test to show a negative result.

In light of the above details, it seems to me that protesting the measures for "limiting freedom" is both an overreach and potentially a cop-out to avoid exerting relatively minimal effort to ensure the safety of others in indoor spaces as well as to ensure that the French health system doesn't get overwhelmed with new COVID cases, leading to more loss of life.

What are your thoughts on the measures, yourself?

 

[Revoltingest]

As I'd expect, there's a certain kind of human in
every country. We just notice our own more.

 

[Shakeel]

Niqabs are still illegal, right? - for security reasons...

 

[Deidre]

But, those who don't wish to become vaccinated, would have to be tested at the door of all these different places, before entering? You can test negative today, and then positive tomorrow, so I'm not sure how the testing will work. That part sounds like it wouldn't run smoothly.

 

[danieldemol]

What are your thoughts on the measures, yourself

They sound reasonable to me.

I don't know how they got 160,000 to oppose the measures.

 

[stvdv]

In light of the above details, it seems to me that protesting the measures for "limiting freedom" is both an overreach and potentially a cop-out to avoid exerting relatively minimal effort to ensure the safety of others in indoor spaces as well as to ensure that the French health system doesn't get overwhelmed with new COVID cases, leading to more loss of life.

What are your thoughts on the measures, yourself?

I have a different opinion on this

But I know that 90% on RF get extremely irritated when someone has a different opinion on this subject, I see no use to give my opinion. Clearly Freedom of Speech and respect other people's their opinion has gone since Covid entered the stage (esp. under Atheists on RF I noticed this)

 

[stvdv]

Niqabs are still illegal, right? - for security reasons...

Interesting point

It's very clear to me, where we are heading with all of this

 

[Secret Chief]

On a related... here in the UK the Costa Coffee chain require customers to be able to show they have been vaccinated. The funny thing is anti-vaxxers are screaming "Boycott Costa." So let me think this one through...they're going to boycott somewhere that they wouldn't be allowed in anyway. Carry on, I'll be having a coffee knowing I'm not sitting next to any covidiots.

 

[Meow Mix]

Niqabs are still illegal, right? - for security reasons...

Sometimes hijab too! They don't even pretend it's for security very hard. I found those bans extremely gross.