Eiffel Tower to reopen Friday for first time in nine months

The Eiffel Tower is set to reopen Friday for the first time in nearly nine months as France cracks down on coronavirus vaccines.

The monument will open after it was shut down in late October during the country’s second wave of the virus. The tower also closed between March and June of last year, early on in the pandemic.

The Associated Press reported that only 10,000 people will be allowed to visit each day, 15,000 less than what is normally permitted.

The reopening comes as President Emmanuel Macron is cracking down on coronavirus vaccines, making them mandatory for health care workers and requiring them to do daily activities.

A COVID-19 pass, which is given for either being fully vaccinated, recently testing negative for the virus or having natural immunity from recently recovering from the virus, will be needed to attend normal activities such as eating in a restaurant.

Residents of France went out to protest the new rules, arguing they are unfair and put too much pressure on the personal choice to get vaccinated.

Residents who don’t get the vaccine in France won’t be able to go to bars, shopping malls or get on public transportation such as trains or planes. Health care workers will be suspended without pay on Sept. 15 if they do not comply.

The rules on vaccines are being implemented as the contagious delta variant has caused a spike in cases around the world.

The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., also recently reopened, with visitors having to get tickets and wear masks whether they are vaccinated or not.