France is continuing to accelerate its COVID-19 vaccination program as the country gets ready for the next stage of easing restrictions, with outdoor areas of bars and restaurants hoping to reopen next week.

There were more than 657,000 vaccinations on May 11, which set a new national daily record in France.

On May 12, the vaccination program was opened to all adults aged over 18, but only if there are extra doses that were not taken by the current eligible age groups (people over 50 in good health, 18-49-year-olds with underlying medical conditions, essential workers).

The move is part of the government's strategy to expand the COVID-19 vaccine campaign to run alongside the planned timetable for easing the current restrictions.

People over the age of 17 in good health can check the national vaccination website to see if there are any unused doses at the end of the day and book in to receive that spare shot the next day.

On May 19, the government plans to loosen the nationwide curfew to run from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., instead of the current nightly shutdown which starts at 7 p.m.

On that day it also aims to allow bars, cafes and restaurants to reopen their outdoor dining areas.

Museums, theaters and cinemas will also be allowed to open their doors again, albeit with a limit on total capacity based on the size of the venue.

'Vaccine pass'

On May 11, the government managed to get its latest health bill past MPs in a late-night session.

President Emmanuel Macron's party, En Marche, was defeated in the first round of voting as its usual allies in parliament voted against the bill. But after the government agreed to reduce the duration of the "state of health emergency," the bill was voted through.

The proposed legislation also includes providing for a digital "health pass" to show whether people have been vaccinated, something seen as crucial for a successful summer tourist season.

Before the vote, Prime Minister Jean Castex said that "the downward trend is clear" with regards to health indicators the government is using to measure the pandemic.

Positive cases, intensive care patients, the incidence rate and COVID-19 deaths are all falling.

But Castex admitted the government's aim to get 20 million people vaccinated with their first dose by mid-May could be missed by a few days due to "delays with the AstraZeneca injections."