In Italy, “freedom” and “no to dictatorship” were the words most heard among protesters, most of whom were unmasked, from the north to the south of the country.
In the northern city of Milan, the protests were accompanied by shouts of “No health card”. Demonstrations have been called on social networks in at least 80 cities.
From August 6, it will be mandatory in Italy to use the covid-19 “Health Card” (which certifies vaccination from the first dose, a negative test in the last 48 hours, or recovery from illness) to access indoor entertainment venues, such as cafes, restaurants, swimming pools and lounges Sports, museums, cinemas, theaters and game rooms.
The new measure, announced on Thursday, has led to a rush toward vaccination that in some areas has increased by 200%.
Today, Italy recorded another 5,140 injuries and five deaths. The country has just over half of the population over 12 years old who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Protesters in France against government measures الإجراءات
Police estimate that 11 thousand demonstrators took part in the capital, Paris, and about 150 thousand in about a hundred other cities, including Marseille.
In Paris, a group of demonstrators, belonging mainly to the anti-government “yellow vests” movement, were involved in sporadic incidents with the police, according to Agence France-Presse.
On the social networking site Twitter, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin denounced the “violent behavior that targeted some policemen and journalists,” noting that six people were being questioned in Paris, where incidents occurred near the Champs-Elysees.
Thousands of people, almost all without masks, joined the sound of the French anthem in Trocadero Square, following the appeal of the former far-right European MP, Florian Philippot.
The demonstrations occur, according to a survey, when a majority of French support President Emmanuel Macron’s decision on July 12 to compel doctors, nurses and other professionals to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Work in hospitals and nursing homes.
Extending the use of a covid-19 digital certificate (which certifies vaccination, negative test or recovery from disease) for most public places has similarly been approved by most French people, according to the same survey, released on July 13.
Mandatory in cultural and entertainment venues, this ‘Health Card’ must now be shown from August to enter cafes, restaurants and trains.
The French head of state’s announcement of the new measures accelerated vaccination: on Friday, 48% of the population completed vaccination and 58% received at least one dose.
However, the number of infections has increased significantly due to the delta variant, from 4,500 on July 9 to about 21,500 on Friday.
Opposition to the new government measures brings together the anti-masks, vaccines, and confinement movements.
A week ago, more than 110,000 people demonstrated in France against vaccination, or the “health card”.
The Covid-19 pandemic has killed at least 4.1 million people worldwide, among more than 192.5 million infected, according to the latest report by Agence France-Presse.
Covid-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which was discovered in late 2019 in Wuhan, a city in central China, and has spread rapidly throughout the world.
