French court okays virus health pass rules

France's highest court has upheld a new law requiring the public to hold a health pass to access bars and restaurants and health workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-September, saying it complies with the republic's founding charter.

In its ruling on Thursday, the Constitutional Council did however strike down several clauses in the legislation, saying that enforcing a compulsory 10-day quarantine on anyone testing COVID-19 positive was an impingement on freedoms.

The court said the rule was neither necessary nor proportionate.

It also ruled that while employers could suspend health and frontline workers who refuse to get a COVID-19 jab or show proof of a negative test, they could not dismiss them.

The legislation is due to come into effect on August 9.

President Emmanuel Macron announced the stricter rules in the fight against the coronavirus in mid-July but Prime Minister Jean Castex referred the law to France's Constitutional Council due to the fierce public outcry and large demonstrations against the measures.

Macron also announced on Thursday that older and more vulnerable people would be offered a booster vaccination from September onwards.

There was a need for boosters in the fight against the coronavirus, Macron said, though a third dose was not immediately necessary for everyone.