On Monday, July 12, French President Emmanuel Macron outlined new measures to curb the COVID-19 epidemic and the Delta variant. Starting July 21, the health pass will be mandatory for leisure and cultural sites. Those aged 12 and older must be vaccinated or show a recent negative test to enter shows, amusement parks, concerts, or festivals, as the President specified. Cinemas and theaters are included. From August, it will also apply to restaurants, long-distance trains, and coaches.
These changes could spur more fake health pass usage, already spotted across French departments. Fraud attempts for bogus vaccination certificates emerged in June.
France 2's 8 p.m. news on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, exposed fake health passes available online. Basic fake vaccination certificates cost about €200. Sophisticated versions with QR codes require a doctor's collusion, risking their license revocation.
Producing or buying a fake health pass carries severe penalties: up to 3 years in prison and a €45,000 fine for both sellers and buyers.
