Victims of the curfew and the new measures of the government, French restaurateurs are asking for relaxation when they have already suffered large losses despite a small help.
Since October 19, 12:00 a.m., the curfew has been in effect for 4 weeks, as part of the state of health emergency. It could be extended to six weeks after the acceptance of parliament.
On October 14, President Macron announced a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the « maximum alert » areas: Paris and Ile-de-France, Aix-Marseille, Lille, Grenoble, Lyon, Toulouse, Montpellier, Rouen and Saint-Etienne. During this period, all travel is prohibited except with a derogation (on the government.fr website or the ministry of interior (printed version, downloadable on smartphone or handwritten version) for the following reasons:
- occupational or health travel
- help a dependent relative
- reasons for transport (plane or train)
- take out a pet.
The curfew will affect about 19 million people, just under one in three French.
The police will do checks. Without justification, a fine of 135 euros and 1500 euros will be payable in case of a repeat offense. In addition, gatherings are limited to 6 people in public spaces and in the private domain.
What are the activities impacted?
Since October 6, following a deterioration in the health situation, the authorities (Paris police prefecture, ARS, Ville de Paris and Rectorate of Île-de-France) have implemented new measures. They apply in the public space and in the school, where the wearing of masks and the observation of barrier gestures are mandatory.
They concern restaurants, bars and festive activities, gatherings, sports rooms, swimming pools, multi-purpose rooms, cultural places…
Restaurants
Restaurants are establishments that sell meals in their main capacity. Unlike bars, they can stay open within curfew hours and subject to strict compliance with the new sanitary protocol:
-Display outside the restaurant of the maximum capacity required to comply with all health safety measures must be required outside the restaurant
-Registration of customer contact information on a register. The data are made available to the health authorities for the investigation of cases of contact in case of suspected contamination in the establishment and destroyed after 14 days.
-Limitation to 6 at the same table, people coming together or having booked together.
-Minimum distance of 1 meter between chairs of different tables.
-Possibility to serve drinks outside meals. This is also the case for establishments that do not sell alcohol, in accordance with curfew times.
-For bars and restaurants, catering activities are still possible.
-The extension or creation of the terraces is extended until June 2021, in accordance with the rules and a charter of use.
The action of the great chefs
The great chefs go to the niche to ask for relief in order to avoid closures. According to head Babette de Rozières, « the President of the Republic has given the coup de grace to the profession » despite the respect of the sanitary measures put in place. The IDF regional president, Valérie Pécresse, has been granted the reopening of the restaurants until 10 pm, respecting sanitary measures.
« How do I do a service when the customer has to be at home at 9:00 p.m.? » « It is not the aid that has been put in place that is only deferred debts that will enable us to overcome and overcome the agony that we are suffering. »… »I would like to draw the authorities’ attention once again to these catering professionals who have been the forgotten ones of the government’s measures »….. « I mean the « intermittent catering, all these extras, cooks, hotel owners, waiters who work in private and public events that have been out of status since 2014 and who have no right to anything and starve to death, » said the head.
Bars
– Bars are establishments where the sale of alcoholic beverages is the main activity. They have to close at 9 PM and can open at 6 AM. The same is true for the take-out sale and the consumption of alcohol on public roads.
-Shisha bars closed
Festive activities and gatherings
– Prohibition of student parties and all festive or family gatherings held in institutions receiving from the public. The broadcast of music amplified on the public or audible from the public highway is prohibited from 9 p.m.
– Wedding ceremonies can be held in the town hall or in places of worship, weddings are forbidden.
– Closing of game clubs, dance rooms and games rooms to the public.
-Closing of fairs and exhibitions (exhibition parks) and events under large tents classified as CTS within the meaning of the regulations (circus performances under capitals, various events..).
– At rallies, up to 1,000 people in strict compliance with health protection rules (technical and security personnel not included).
–No gathering of more than 6 people on the public road, in parks and gardens as well as in private places.
However, demonstrations, Covid-19 screening booths are allowed. The same applies to food distributions, aid to the most vulnerable, markets. Any professional gathering (filming, guided tours, public road sites) can take place.
Funeral ceremonies
Opening of cemeteries at the usual times for funeral ceremonies. However, we must respect the barriers to the health of all.
Watches and swept not available, bring your equipment for the maintenance of the grave and win it
Sport and outdoor activities
-Closure of sports and fitness clubs maintained.
–Covered facilities (swimming pools, gymnasiums, multi-purpose rooms…) closed to adults. Students, minors, STAPS students, persons in continuing or vocational training and
professional and high-level athletes allowed. Persons with a medical prescription, persons with a disability (with proof) have the right to access it.
– The outdoor facilities are accessible according to sanitary instructions.
– Prohibition of groups of more than 6 people on open-access physical education grounds.
Cultural venues
-Opening of museums, theaters, cinemas, concert halls, up to 1000 guests at the same time, while respecting the fences and curfew. Opening hours in some theaters and cinemas for screenings.
-Libraries and mediatheques remain open with traffic constraints and compliance with sanitary rules. Limit of access to computer stations but not read on possible. Progressive opening of work places within the library network, depending on the institutions.
Older and disabled persons
-Enhanced health monitoring of EHP residents (bidaily temperature captures)
-Permanent wearing of the surgical mask for all agents (caregivers and non-caregivers), residents, visitors and outsiders,
-Suspension of exits of residents to families (except in exceptional circumstances)
-Family visits by appointment only,
-Systematic screening of residents and agents as soon as an agent or resident has been tested positive at VID,
-Organization of spaces that can bring together positive tested residents to avoid room confinement.
-Maintenance and strengthening of activities and animations offered to the persons accommodated.
New cities and departments affected by curfew
Since Thursday, October 22, curfew has spread to new French cities. From Friday midnight, it will apply to 38 new departments as well as to Polynesia and will last 6 weeks. In total, it covers 54 departments, or 46 million French. Telework is always encouraged and economic aid is extended to all affected departments. Among them are a solidarity fund, exemption from social contributions and extension of state-guaranteed loans.
The 54 departments covered by the curfew, including those at the beginning of the period, are as follows:
Paris, the Ain, the Alpes-Maritimes, the Hautes-Alpes, the Ardèche, the Ardennes, the Ariège, the Aube, the Aveyron, the Bouches-du-Rhône, the Calvados, the Haute-Corsica, the Côte-d’Or, the Drôme, the Essonne, the Gard, the Haute Garonne, Hérault, Ille-et-Vilaine, Indre-et-Loire, Isère, Jura, Loire, Haute-Loire, Loiret, Lozère, Maine-et-Loire, Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais, the Puy-de-Dôme, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the Hautes-Pyrénées, the Pyrénées-Orientales, the Bas-Rhin, the Rhône, the Saône-et-Loire, the Savoie, the Haute-Savoie, the Seine-Maritime, the Seine-et-Marne, the Yvelines, the Tarn, the Tarn-et-Garonne, the Vine Arar, Vaucluse, Haute-Vienne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, Val-d’Oise and Polynesia.
Government action
In his speech, the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, emphasized a more severe curfew. Possibility of a future re-containment if the epidemic continues. He therefore called for « national solidarity and unwavering mobilization ».
In addition, the actors of live entertainment and cinema will receive EUR 85 million and EUR 30 million respectively in additional aid.
-New version of Stop Covid, « All Anti-Covid », already downloadable. The new application gives access to DepistageCovid (map of nearby laboratories and respective wait times). Support of personalized advice (MyTipsCovid) to protect yourself and others around you. It allows you to obtain a travel waiver certificate.
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