France's Parliament began debating on Monday draft legislation in order to get their unvaccinated population to get the vaccine, in order to fight the recet surge in COVID-19 cases, brought on by the spread of the Omicron variant.

The legislation would require people wishing to enter public spaces, like long-distance public transport, restaurants, and the like to be vaccinated.

France still has five million people over 12 that have been unvaccinated. Until now, a negative COVID test was enough for a health pass so people can access public spaces. However, the rise in cases, which in France has reached 160,000 per day, and has peaked above 200,000, has pushed lawmakers to seek stronger measures.

"The tidal wave has indeed arrived, it's enormous, but we will not give in to panic," Health Minister Olivier Veran told parliament. He also told critics who say that this law is an attack on civil liberties that "selfishness often hides behind talk of supposed liberty".

The legislation is expected to pass through Parliament's lower house, and will come into force on January 15 after passing through the upper house Senate.