RESTAURANT and COVID. This Thursday January 20, 2022, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced at a press conference that “standing” consumption in restaurants, bars and cafes will again be authorized from Wednesday February 16.
[Mis à jour le 20 janvier 2021 à 20h27] This Thursday, January 20, 2022, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced his timetable for easing health restrictions for the month of February: “As of February 16, consumption in stadiums will again be authorized, consumption standing in bars possible and nightclubs will be able to reopen”.
Good news for the profession, despite the forthcoming arrival of the vaccination pass announced by the Prime Minister for Monday, January 24, implying 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”. As a reminder, the vaccination pass will be compulsory in cafes, bars and restaurants, including on the terrace. Take-away sales, collective catering and truck restaurants are not affected by the vaccination pass.
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.
From Monday January 24, the vaccination pass replaces 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 entering 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 health pass to go to places of leisure.
The health protocol that will be applied in the restaurant and bar rooms will be 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 presented 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.
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.