People continue their protests for the fourth week in a row after the highest constitutional authority in France ruled in favor of measures for a COVID-19 "health pass." Photo: Alaattin Dogru/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
France leaders are calling for increased security at vaccination centers and pharmacies across the country as thousands of people protest against the government's COVID-19 health policy pass, the New York Times reports.
Driving the news: Local authorities in France have found 22 cases of vandalism since July 12 at vaccine sites, including Nazi symbols and bomb threats, per Reuters.
- The protests and vandalism come after France approved a law mandating universal vaccinations for health workers and pandemic passes for all restaurants and domestic travel.
The big picture: France has seen a rise of COVID-19 cases in previous weeks due to the more infectious Delta variant. The country now sees more than 22,000 cases per day, per Reuters.
- Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said perpetrators will be severely punished but so far no major arrests have been made, per Reuters.
- "Attacking our health care professionals is an attack on the nation," French health minister Oliver Véran wrote in a letter.
Go deeper: Protests against vaccines, COVID restrictions, span the globe