New Year and Covid: new restrictions, curfew?

[Mis à jour le 15 décembre 2021 à 15h56] Given the epidemic rebound of Covid-19 and the 5th wave, marked by the emergence of the Omicron variant which comes to play the spoilsport, the government has no choice but to call for caution and strongly encourage all French adults to receive their booster dose. At the end of the Council of Ministers of Wednesday, December 15. Gabriel Attal announced that “further decisions could be made in the coming weeks” as well as “clear recommendations for getting through and spending the holidays as conveniently as possibleEither way, celebrate the New Year is not currently banned on December 31st. But to avoid a peak of coronavirus contamination on New Year’s Eve, the government recommends to respect certain sanitary measures and announced on December 6 the closure of nightclubs from Friday December 10 and this for 4 weeks, until January 6, 2022 according to official decree published on December 7, 2021. It is also no longer possible to dance in bars and restaurants. Restrictions, tests, barrier gestures, maximum number of people … Tips for passing the Saint Sylvester 2021-2022 without risk.

A New Year’s curfew?

Curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the night of December 31 in the greater Strasbourg area

Nationally, there is no curfew for New Year’s Eve. Except in the Bas-Rhin Prefecture which has decided to set up an curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on the night of December 31, for children under 16, in order to avoid potential “phenomena of violence regularly observed on New Year’s Eve “, like “the use of fireworks, the burning of vehicles and street furniture”. In the event of non-compliance with the curfew, the minors in violation will be escorted to their homes by the police, who “will immediately inform the public prosecutor of all the facts likely to give rise to the initiation of prosecution”. The municipalities in the greater Strasbourg area are concerned: Strasbourg, Hœnheim, Bischheim, Schiltigheim, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, Lingolsheim and Ostwald.

What are the restrictions?

“There are treatments that can no longer be deprogrammed, the weariness of caregivers, the return of the flu, the epidemic of bronchiolitis, trauma … And we risk having a hospital peak between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, in a time when caregivers are inclined to take some well-deserved rest“, portrayed Olivier Véran, Minister of Health, duringan interview with the Parisian December 11. But unlike last year, “no containment or curfew“are not considered for the end of year celebrations. Celebrating the New Year is therefore possible, but with caution because the virus is still there. During a conference on December 6, Jean Castex asked the French”to stop ” and of “lift the foot“on social interactions and”festive and convivial events in the professional and private spheres “ until the end of the year celebrations. The reason ? “The risks of contamination are the highest. When we meet in moments of conviviality, where we eat, where we have a drink, where we are standing, inside, close to some and others, obviously without a mask. ” Several town halls have decided to cancel their ceremonies of the mayor’s wishes (Caen, Athis-Mons, Guérande …) and the meals of the elders. Finally, some prefectures – such as that of Haut-Rhin – have prohibited firecrackers and fireworks until Monday January 3, 2022.

Are nightclubs closed on the 31st?

Nightclubs close their doors for the next 4 weeks from Friday December 10, Jean Castex announced on December 6 at a press conference. Decree, published on December 7 in the Official Journal confirms that discotheques will no longer be able to “welcome the public until January 6 (2022) inclusive“, specifying that”this prohibition applies until the same date to dance activities“bars and restaurants. Logically, nightclubs and other places concerned will be closed on New Year’s Eve and will not be able to reopen until January 2022.”The disco clientele will rush into the bars. Establishments where there is no ventilation because it is winter and it is cold. Do you really think that on New Year’s Eve people are going to stay at home without partying? […] We are suppressed on the New Year … In all the restaurants (rant) s it’s going to dance!“, denounces Thierry Fontaine, the president of the professional organization Umih Nuit.

Dancing in bars and restaurants will be banned until January 6, 2022

What about dancing bars and restaurants?

The decree of December 7, 2021 specifies that “this ban (on dancing) applies until the same date to dance activities that the establishments mentioned in 1 ° of I of article 40 of this decree are legally authorized to offer“like bars and restaurants. In other words, it will be forbidden to dance in bars and restaurants.

Can we celebrate New Years in a party hall?

A priori, party rooms are authorized to welcome the public. Since November 26, 2021, wearing a mask is once again compulsory in party and multi-purpose halls

What are the barrier gestures to respect?

To reduce the risk of contamination, it is necessary to take a number of precautions:

► Organize the festivities in advance in order to anticipate all situations and consider a plan B if necessary.

► Isolate yourself or limit contact during the week preceding the reunion. The executive last year recommended limiting its interactions during 5 days that precede the gathering. Concretely, if you want to be careful on New Year’s Eve, it is advisable to limit meetings and stay as much as possible at home from Saturday 26 to Thursday 31 December.

► Refrain from reuniting with family or friends in the event of risky contacts or if one presents symptoms. For example, you can use the TousAntiCovid application which allows you to know if you have been in contact with sick people.

► Wash your hands regularly, keep the maximum distance, clean surfaces touched by everyone (furniture, door handles, etc.);

► Ventilate interior spaces 10 minutes every hour (the ventilation time depends on the volume of the room and the air renewal). If it is a small apartment, ventilate for 15 to 20 minutes.

► Adapt the table plan for the meal, with a gauge of 6 adults maximum (without counting the children), by spacing the guests with a greater distance for the people presenting the most risks because of their age or comorbidities. Ideally, it is necessary to count 4 m² per person (i.e. a space of 1 m on each side), according to the High Council of Public Health.

► Systematically wear the mask until the moment you eat, then put it back to continue discussing between two courses and at the end of the meal.

► Avoid sharing objects: for example, put spikes on toast or petit fours to avoid grabbing them with the hand, do not pass dishes, but focus on service by one person. Concretely, only one person must handle the serving utensils. Prefer individual portions rather than the big family dishes.

► Do not kiss or hug each other to say hello or wish each other a happy new year at midnight.

► Reduce time spent together and go outside when possible.

Should we do a self-test before New Year?

“Comfort tests” should not be 100% reassuring!

Doing a test or a self-test is not mandatory before meeting with loved ones. However, it is recommended. In a notice of December 8, 2021, the Scientific Council recommends perform a same-day self-test or antigen test the day before or the day of the event. The self-test can be a useful back-up solution: it allows you to know if you are contagious, and must therefore be carried out the same day if you plan to go to a private event where the barrier measures will not be strictly observed. Note that there is always a risk of “false negative” (the test fails to detect the viral load in the body even though it is present). In a lighting note of December 14, 2020, the Scientific Council recommended carrying out tests before New Years Eve on December 24 and 31.

>> So, if you want to get tested before the New Year, it is advisable to take the test between 48h and 24h before the festivities, either between the December 29 and 30. It is essential that the person self-isolate without waiting for the result of the test. An antigen test can be performed if the onset of symptoms is recent (<3 days) and an RT-PCR test if the onset of symptoms is older (⩾4 days).

>> In all cases, “the test is not an immunity totem“, indicated the Minister of Health Olivier Véran on December 10. He does not offer the guarantee of not being a carrier of the virus on the evening of December 31. In other words, a negative test cannot reassure 100% and does not must not justify the abandonment of barrier gestures and health recommendations.