One hundred elected officials from the Haute-Savoie region have signed a letter urging the government not to extend Covid health passes into next year. Proof of being double vaccinated or a negative Covid test is required for people to enter many public spaces, including restaurants, bars, museums and sports stadiums.

       The emergency legislation is due to expire next month but is set to be put in place until at least summer 2022.

       In the letter, Haute-Savoie officials argue Covid passes are tearing the community apart and forcing businesses into financial difficulties.

       They also warned that mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers have left nursing homes short-staffed.

       The letter adds: “More broadly, the pass, implemented in a definite lack of consultation, is generating a growing lack of understanding. This variable system creates confusion.

       “A music school, if it is supported by a local authority, is exempted, but if it is an association, the pass applies.

       “Children in secondary schools play basketball together without a pass, but in the evening, in the same gymnasium, with the same children and this time in an associative framework, the pass applies.

       “It is compulsory in trains, but not in metros, in museums, but not in schools; the examples are numerous.”

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       French Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said a draft law will be put forward on Wednesday to extend the measures until July 31, 2022.

       He said the health passes were needed to drive down infections, but insisted the measures would be lifted "as soon as we can".

       Mr Attal said: “Thanks to this text, we will be able to take all the necessary measures if necessary.

       "There is a non-negligible risk of an epidemic resurgence this winter. We must stay vigilant until next summer."

       On Tuesday, France reported the number of people hospitalised with coronavirus rose for a third successive day.

       An additional 15 people were admitted into hospital in the past 24 hours – taking the total to 6,483.

       The overall figure is around five times lower than the pandemic peak of 33,497 reported in November 2020.

       The coronavirus R rate of infection has gradually increased above one in France and the country registered 5,934 new daily cases on Tuesday.

       Additional reporting by Maria Ortega.