There was a record surge in vaccine bookings across France today following yesterday's announcement that people will need a "health pass" to eat in restaurants or go to the cinema.
Over 1.7 million people had applied for vaccine appointments by late afternoon, most of them under 35. It comes as 6,950 new infections were reported.
Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Twitter that 792,000 jabs were administered today, a new daily record, adding that "this momentum needs to grow and continue in the coming weeks."
President Emmanuel Macron announced the tougher measures yesterday, including mandatory vaccinations for healthcare and retirement home workers.
But critics accused the president of discriminating against sceptics or those who will not be fully vaccinated before the "health pass" rules come into effect.
Others say the government is effectively imposing general vaccination by stealth - the French word for dictatorship, #Dictature, was trending on Twitter.
The rules will be relaxed for teenagers who have only been able to get the jabs since mid-June.
The Delta variant is now causing the majority of the 4,000 to 5,000 new cases per day in France, a figure that could jump to 35,000 by August without new containment measures, the Pasteur Institute warned.
Starting 21 July, proof of vaccination or a negative test will be needed to go to theatres, cinemas and amusement parks.
From August, anyone wanting to go out to eat or drink, take a long-distance train or visit a shopping centre will need the health pass.
And free Covid tests will end in September to further encourage vaccinations, Mr Macron added in a speech watched by 22 million people.
He also announced mandatory vaccinations for healthcare staff, retirement home workers and others working with vulnerable people from September, in line with similar moves in Greece, Italy and Britain.
But cinema and restaurant owners said they worried the rules will force many patrons to stay away just as they are emerging from months of pandemic closures.
"We're not the police. Lots of my clients are not vaccinated. If they have to have a test and wait 48 hours to have a beer, they're not going to come," one Paris restaurant owner told AFP.
Jocelyn Bouyssy, the head of the CGR Cinemas group, told Franceinfo radio that he was "very angry" about the health pass, which would be difficult to implement and dissuade people from going out to watch a film.
"We're like lambs being led to the slaughter," he said.
Nursing homeworker Sandra Barona is so vehemently against receiving a Covid-19 shot that she said she may quit her job after President Macron ordered all health workers to get vaccinated.
Ms Barona, who looks after elderly residents in a care home southwest of Paris, expressed scant faith in vaccines.
She feels they have been developed too hastily - even though regulators around the world have repeatedly said speed will not compromise safety.
But she said she took particular umbrage at having her "individual freedoms" trampled over.
