RESTAURANT and COVID. This Tuesday, February 15, 2022, government spokesperson Gabriel Attal confirmed at a press conference that “standing” consumption in restaurants, bars and cafes would again be authorized tomorrow.
[Mis à jour le 15 février 2022 à 14h31] This Tuesday, February 15, 2022, government spokesman Gabriel Attal confirmed during a press briefing after the Council of Ministers the application of the timetable for the easing of restrictions announced by the Prime Minister in January . “We can move forward as planned on lifting the last restrictions,” he confirmed.
Indeed, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced at a press conference on January 20 that “from February 16, consumption in stadiums would again be authorized”, that “standing consumption in bars” would be possible and “that discos could reopen”. From tomorrow, it will therefore once again be possible to consume food and drinks standing at the counter of a bar or restaurant, just as it will be possible to eat in stadiums, at the cinema or in transport.
Since Monday January 24, the vaccination pass has replaced the health pass in restaurants, bars and cafes, including on the terrace for all French people over the age of 16… In concrete terms, customers must present their vaccination pass before accessing in these public places. As a reminder, the vaccination pass consists of proof of complete vaccination or proof of recovery from Covid-19. The negative PCR or antigen test is no longer valid. Only minors aged 12 to 15 can still present a sanitary pass to get to places of recreation.
As a reminder, take-out sales, collective catering and truck restaurants are not affected by the vaccination pass.
The health protocol that is applied in restaurant and bar rooms is as follows:
- Wearing a mask compulsory from 11 years old, upon arrival at the restaurant and to move.
- Consumption and bar service allowed.
- Hand disinfection with hydroalcoholic gel.
- Respect for barrier gestures.
- The menus are presented in a form avoiding any contact (slate, orally or QR code) as far as possible. The laminated menus are cleaned between each handling and the paper menus are for single use.
- Table payment recommended.
- Use of the contactless credit card recommended.
- Installation of dividing walls or plexiglass between the tables recommended.
The implementation of the vaccination pass since Monday, January 24 implies the start of possible identity checks of customers holding the vaccination pass at the entrance to restaurants and bars. A government decision that does not delight the profession, starting with the vice-president of the UMIH-restoration Jean Terlon.
“The identity check will not be applied because, one, it is not compulsory, and secondly we are not trained to judge the validity of this pass” but also “because we do not have the time and we already have enough problems in the restoration today”, he had reacted on France Info on January 17. The “only time when we can cast doubt” is if “you are a man and there is a female first name written” on the pass, but “it’s a facial check, it’s impossible to apply to us”. The risk is to cause “sterile discussions, even conflicts at the entrance to restaurants”.
Fines are increased for customers and restaurateurs who do not comply with the law. Customers without a vaccination pass or presenting that of a third party are penalized by a fixed fine of 1,000 euros. Customers in possession of a false certificate will be punished by 3 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros unless these fraudsters are vaccinated within 30 days after the date of the offence. As for restaurateurs who do not check the vaccination pass of their customers, they are liable to a fine of 1,000 euros. Here are the terms and conditions to know before going to these public places.
Customers with a smartphone can photograph the QR code displayed at the entrance of the catering establishment in order to consult the menu. But restaurateurs also scan their customers’ QR codes to check their vaccination pass. At that time, a link opens on the restaurant owner’s smartphone or tablet via the TousAntiCovid Verif application.
The application for restaurateurs is similar to that for individuals, but only discloses a few information: surname, first name, date of birth, validity or not of the pass, vaccination data, negative test or recovery from Covid. The government has specified that the QR code is encrypted, and that it does not indicate details of the customer’s geolocation. The health protocol has been validated by the CNIL insofar as its use is temporary.