Advertisement

Government: France 'is on track' to reopen cafés and cultural establishments

The Local France
The Local France - [email protected]
Government: France 'is on track' to reopen cafés and cultural establishments
French Secretary of State and Government's spokesperson Gabriel Attal leaves after taking part in the weekly cabinet meeting at The Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on May 5, 2021. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

France is on track to reopen café terraces and lift other Covid-19 restrictions on May 19th, said the government spokesman on Wednesday, but he warned about the rising threat of new variants.

Advertisement

Speaking after the Defence Council meeting on Wednesday, where French President Emmanuel Macron and selected ministers gather each week to review the health measures in place against Covid-19, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said the latest epidemic indicators were positive.

"If we maintain our efforts, May 19th will be the day to reopen café, bar and restaurant terraces and places of culture," Attal said.

While the overall health situation remained serious and hospitals were still under pressure, average case numbers had dropped by 20 percent over the past week and "regionally, the incidence rate is declining everywhere," Attal said.

MAP: Where in France are Covid rates falling?

The government's plan to gradually reopen France allows for postponing the dates in areas with incidence rates - total new cases per 100,000 inhabitants, taken as a seven-day average - of over 400.

IN DETAIL: France’s new calendar for reopening after Covid restrictions

All of mainland France's départements had on Wednesday dropped below that threshold, although the numbers included a holiday - Saturday, May 1st - when many test centres were closed.

Advertisement

Attal also warned that "the threat of variants remains real", risking a flare-up in cases the country lowered its guard.

"We cannot take lightly the risk of new variants," Attal said, adding that the government intends to put additional countries on the list of areas subject extra tight travel restrictions. The list would become public after the government notified the countries concerned, which would happen "in the coming hours".

 

He also said 16.5 people had received at least one dose of the vaccination.

"We will meet our goals: 30 million people by mid-June and all adults who want to by the end of the summer," Attal said.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also