In the wake of rising COVID-19 cases in France, President Emmanuel Macron said that citizens over-65s in France will soon get some relaxation in visiting restaurants and museums if they have a COVID booster jab.

“From 15 December, you will need to provide proof of a booster jab to extend the validity of your health pass,” President Macron warned in a TV address.

This new rule further tightens France’s lockdown, which is one of the strictest COVID regimes in Europe.

France, despite high vaccinations rates, is witnessing a climb in daily infections. The infection rates jumped 40% over last week.

On Tuesday, the country recorded 12,476 new confirmed infections within 24 hours. This is its highest level since early September.

In France, the infection has claimed the lives of more than 118,000 people since the outbreak happened.

“We have not finished with the pandemic,” President Macron said in his address.

Quoting the evidence, Macron said that after a person was vaccinated “immunity decreases and therefore the risk of developing a serious form [of Covid] increases”.

“The solution to this decrease in immunity is an additional vaccine shot,” he said.

“Each of us must play our part” to avoid a deadly “fifth wave” of the pandemic, Macron said in a televised speech.

Stressing that most of those hospitalized in France with the virus are unvaccinated, Macron also appealed to the 6 million other unvaccinated French people to “get vaccinated. Protect yourself.”

He said that next month booster jabs will be available for those aged between 50 and 64. He reiterated that 80% of COVID patients who are currently over 50 are in intensive care units.

In late July, the health pass in France became a key requirement. People had to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery from COVID to enter most museums and cinemas. They even needed it for travelling.

Since the measures were introduced in France, it has seen a wave of street protests.