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Macron: France doesn’t need to lock down the non-vaccinated, as COVID spreads

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Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="A view shows people registering via Stephane Mahe, Reuters" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/11/18/20211118-registering-to-get-a-dose-of-the-comirnaty-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-rtr.jpg"/><figcaption>A view shows people registering to get a dose of the Comirnaty Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Ancenis-Saint-Gereon, France, November 17, 2021. <em>Stephane Mahe, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>PARIS—France does not need to follow those European countries imposing COVID-19 lockdowns on unvaccinated people, because of the success of its health pass in curbing the virus&#x27; spread, President Emmanuel Macron said.</p><p>Europe has again become the epicenter of the pandemic, prompting some countries including Germany and Austria to reintroduce restrictions in the run-up to Christmas and causing debate over whether vaccines alone are enough to tame COVID-19.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/10/27/21/who-pandemic-far-from-over-despite-vaccine-progress">WHO: Pandemic ‘far from over’ despite vaccine, virus-analysis progress</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Those countries locking down the non-vaccinated are those which have not put in place the (health) pass. Therefore this step is not necessary in France,&quot; Macron told La Voix du Nord newspaper in an interview published on Thursday.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/19/21/germany-to-limit-public-life-for-the-unvaccinated">Germany to limit public life for the unvaccinated</a></li></ul><p>In France, proof of vaccination or a recent negative test is required to go to restaurants, cafes and cinemas and to take long-distance trains, among other activities.</p><p>Europe accounted last week for more than half of the seven-day average of infections globally and about half of the latest deaths, according to a Reuters tally.</p><p>German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday announced curbs on public life for those not yet vaccinated in areas where hospitals are filling dangerously fast with COVID-19 patients. Austria has also imposed a lockdown for the unvaccinated.</p><p>Earlier in the day, several hundred people protested outside the Austrian Embassy in Paris against Austria&#x27;s restrictions, fearing France might be next to reimpose curbs aimed at reducing the circulation of the virus.</p><p>Macron said he was still awaiting guidance from health authorities on whether a third dose should be extended to all those eligible for the vaccine.</p><p>A booster shot is currently available for those over 65 and the frail and will be required for a valid health pass for the age group from December.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/18/21/covid-cases-go-up-in-europe-restrictions-sought-again">‘Alarm signals are all red’: Europe sees coronavirus infections skyrocket</a></li></ul><p>&quot;If it&#x27;s shown that a third dose is effective and necessary for the wider public, then obviously we will incorporate it into the health pass,&quot; he told La Voix du Nord.<strong> (Reporting by Richard Lough; Editing by Peter Cooney)</strong></p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/11/11/21/world-at-risk-of-measles-outbreaks-as-shots-disrupted">World at risk of measles outbreaks as COVID-19 disrupts infant shots, report says</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1834483" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Europe has again become the epicenter of the pandemic, prompting some countries including Germany and Austria to reintroduce restrictions.