Some 160,000 people, including far-right activists and members of France's yellow vest movement, protested Saturday across the country against a bill requiring everyone to have a special virus pass to enter restaurants and mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for all health care workers.

Most French adults are fully vaccinated and multiple polls indicate a majority of French people support the new measures.

They were upset over a French "health pass" that is now required to enter museums, movie theaters and tourist sites.

To get the pass, people need to be fully vaccinated, have a recent negative test or have proof they recently recovered from the virus.

More than 2 billion people worldwide have been vaccinated and information about COVID-19 vaccines is now widely available, but many protesters said they felt they were being rushed into something they're not ready to do.

Ayoub Bouglia, an engineer, said, "We need to wait a little bit before the French people can decide ...

In Italy, thousands of protesters gathered in Rome, Milan, Verona and other cities Saturday, protesting the government's decision to require a "Green Pass" to access indoor dining, local fairs, stadiums, cinemas and other gathering places.

In the northern city of Verona, several thousand people marched down the main shopping street, chanting "No Green Pass!" and "Freedom!" They included families with young children, medical doctors who said they are risking their jobs not to get vaccinated and people who likened the Green Pass decision to decisions by fascist dictatorships.