France has rolled out a new COVID-19 health pass amid a surge in infections which has prompted warnings the country is in the grip of a fourth wave of the pandemic.

From Wednesday, people wanting to visit cinemas, museums, sports matches and other cultural venues will be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19, a negative test, or recent recovery from the virus.

The health pass will be extended in August to patrons of restaurants, cafés and shopping centres.

The certification scheme forms part of various new measures announced by President Emmanuel Macron on July 12 to curtail the transmission of coronavirus, representing some of the toughest anti-COVID measures in effect in Europe.

Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler reports.