Paris [France], October 3 (ANI/Sputnik): Nearly 48,000 people participated in demonstrations against the coronavirus health passes held across France on Saturday, La Depeche newspaper reported citing the French Interior Ministry.

Around 5,000 people protested in Paris alone on Saturday, which was the 12th consecutive Saturday of demonstrations against the health passes, La Depeche said, adding that the number of protesters has been steadily declining.

Also Read | Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine Update: 'WHO Has Lifted All Barriers for Approval', Says Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko.

Last Saturday, around 64,000 people protested across France, with 7,200 demonstrators gathered in Paris.

In July, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a series of new restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19, including the special health pass indicating that a person has either been vaccinated or has a negative test result for COVID-19. Before that, the health pass was already required in museums, theatres, movies and all public events attended by over fifty people.

Also Read | Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte Announces Retirement From Politics.

Starting August 9, the pass became mandatory in restaurants, bars, shopping centres, airplanes and long-distance trains.

The move caused widespread discontent among the French, and protests against the measure have been held every weekend since. (ANI/Sputnik)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)