INTERNATIONAL: A mandatory order would not be the most efficient way to encourage those not vaccinated against COVID-19 to get the shot, France government spokesman Gabriel Attal has said on Sunday.

Government spokesman Gabriel Attal has added that plans to toughen health pass conditions were already yielding results.

People in France already have to show either proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter restaurants and bars and use inter-regional trains. But with Omicron infections surging, parliament is debating legislation that will drop the test option.

President Emmanuel Macron this week has said he wanted to irritate the unvaccinated by making their lives so difficult they would get the COVID-19 shot.

France has recorded more than 300,000 new coronavirus infections for the second time in a week on Friday. Hospitalisations, including COVID-19 patients in intensive care (ICU), are rising steadily, putting the healthcare system under strain.