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		</div><p>France’s government is forging ahead with efforts to increase pressure on unvaccinated people to get coronavirus shots, as the country reported 208,000 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday – a record fuelled by the Omicron variant.</p>
<p>Health minister Olivier Veran defended a government plan to allow only the fully vaccinated to enjoy continued access to places such as restaurants, cinemas, theatres, museums and sports arenas.</p>
<p>The pass will also be required on long-distance trains and domestic flights.</p>
<p>Mr Veran said at a parliamentary hearing that the record number of infections means that more than two French people are testing positive every second for Covid-19.</p>
<p>He estimated that about 10% of the French population has been in contact recently with a person infected with the virus.</p>
<p>Speaking to those not vaccinated, Mr Veran said: “There is really little chance that this time you can escape (Covid-19): The virus is spreading too fast.”</p>
<p>He said that in Paris public hospitals, 70% of people in intensive care units are not vaccinated.</p>
<p>Mr Veran also advised the most vulnerable people who had not got the vaccine booster shot yet to “protect yourself in the coming days. Don’t take risks”.</p>
<p>The speeded-up introduction of the so-called vaccine pass forms part of a government strategy to use vaccinations, rather than new lockdowns, to try to soften the impact of the fast-spreading Omicron variant on already overburdened hospitals.</p>
<p>France has vaccinated 77% of its population and is rushing out booster shots, again to combat Omicron.</p>
<p>But more than four million adults remain unvaccinated, including more than one million people over the age of 65.</p>
<p>More than 3,400 Covid-19 patients were hospitalised in intensive care units on Wednesday, an increase of 10% over the past week.</p>
<p>The figure represents two thirds of ICU beds occupied by people infected with the virus.</p>
<p>But the number is lower than during the previous peak in the spring, when about 6,000 Covid-19 patients needed intensive care.</p>
<p>The government wants the vaccine pass to be in place by mid-January.</p>
<p>The bill is likely to be voted on quickly in parliament, with President Emmanuel Macron’s party holding a majority at the National Assembly, which has the final say.</p>
<p>If approved, its introduction will mean that unvaccinated people will no longer be able to use negative test results to access places where the vaccine pass is required.</p>
<p>The bill provides for an exception to the pass – notably to take trains and planes – for people with family or health emergencies on condition they are able to present a negative test.</p>
<p>Those who are not vaccinated but have proof of a recent Covid-19 recovery will be able to get a vaccine pass limited to a six-month period following infection.</p>
<p>On Monday, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced a series of new measures to try to curb the spread of the virus.</p>
<p>Yet the government stopped short of taking drastic restrictions, such as curfews or lockdowns, appearing to be trying to strike a balance between measures needed to relieve hospitals and keep the economy running at the same time.</p>
<p>Starting from next week, big events will be limited to 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 people outdoors.</p>
<p>Eating and drinking will be banned in cinemas, theatres, sport facilities and public transportation, including on long-distance routes.</p>
<p>Working from home will be mandatory at least three days per week for employees whose job makes it possible.</p>
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