DISCOTHEQUES. In an attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19, the government has announced the closure of nightclubs for four weeks.
[Mis à jour le 10 décembre 2021 à 16h11] La bamboche, it’s over. In an attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19 in France, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the closure of nightclubs for a period of four weeks, from this Friday until January 7, 2022. This Thursday is therefore the last opportunity of the year to go swinging on the dancefloors. An announcement strongly contested by professionals in the sector, made at the end of a new Defense Council at the Elysee Palace on Monday.
And if the managers of night establishments have since denounced a difference in treatment with other sectors, the government added that “dance activities” will also be prohibited “until January 6 inclusive”, which means that it It will be forbidden to dance in bars and restaurants, which remain open for the moment.
“The virus circulates a lot among young people and wearing a mask is difficult in these places. We also do it for consistency with the general message of caution”, argued Jean Castex, announcing that the government would support “economically the companies concerned (…) as much as is necessary. ” Partial unemployment will be reinstated in the events and nightlife sector, announces Elisabeth Borne on LCI. “I really want to reassure them: we are going to put in place partial activity, 100% support therefore without any remaining costs for the employer, to continue to protect jobs”, assures the minister.
The discos, closed for sixteen months, only reopened on July 9, with a strict protocol. Protocol to which the mask was added again after a speech by the Minister of Health two weeks ago. Nightclubs are among the places with the highest Covid-19 contamination rate.
As revealed by the new part of the ComCor study by the Institut Pasteur, relayed by The Parisian, private parties, bars and nightclubs stand out as being the most at risk: in those under 40, the risk of contamination increases by 340% (150% in those over 40) compared to a person without not frequented nightclub. For comparison, a car trip with other people increases the risk by 30%.
Ln Thursday, November 25, Olivier Véran announced the return of the compulsory mask in all covered places. Including if their access is already subject to presentation of the health pass. The law no longer required the wearing of a mask in indoor places where the health pass had been requested since the end of July (each operator remained free to do so). The mask therefore made a comeback in nightclubs from Friday November 26. A short-term respite since the nightclubs are closing their doors …
Nightclubs and discos closed in March 2020, in line with government measures taken to stem the coronavirus pandemic in France. If the restaurants, cinemas, museums and theaters had reopened the first, just like the libertine clubs or the dancing cafes, the managers of the night establishments had waited longer for the green light from the government.
After months of uncertainty, the date of July 9 was finally that of the opening, after having been confirmed by the government, Alain Griset, former minister responsible for Small and medium-sized enterprises. According to calculations by the SNDLL (National Union of Discotheques and Places of Leisure), of the 1,648 discotheques in France before the pandemic, 25% were in difficulty when reopening, and 131 in compulsory liquidation. Only 1,500 nightclubs could have reopened. Their re-closure is a new blow for the profession.