Robert Besser
21 May 2021, 15:55 GMT+10
- Paris took a big step in returning to normal on May 19 as cafes and restaurant terraces reopened after a six-month shutdown due to the Covid pandemic
- France is putting in place a phased return to normal, in a bid to head off any resurgence of the pandemic
- France now joins Italy, Belgium, Hungary and other nations in allowing outdoor dining, while drinking and eating indoors began Monday in Britain’s pubs
PARIS, France: Paris took a big step in returning to normal on May 19 as cafes and restaurant terraces reopened after a six-month shutdown due to the Covid pandemic.
France is putting in place a phased return to normal, in a bid to head off any resurgence of the pandemic.
In the first stage, France’s 7 p.m. nightly curfew was rolled back to 9 p.m. Also, museums, theaters and cinemas reopened, along with outdoor cafe terraces.
Among the first to enjoy a coffee at a Paris cafe was President Emmanuel Macron, who talked with customers, along with Prime Minister Jean Castex.
“If we manage to get well organized collectively and continue vaccinating, have a common discipline as citizens, there’s no reason why we can’t continue moving forward,” Macron told reporters.
Castex said he plans to attend a cinema later Wednesday.
France now joins Italy, Belgium, Hungary and other nations in allowing outdoor dining, while drinking and eating indoors began Monday in Britain’s pubs.
Cafes and restaurants in France closed at the end of October, the longest time of any European country except Poland, where bars and restaurants reopened Saturday after being closed for seven months.
The French government, however, has maintained some restrictions, as restaurants can only seat 50 percent of their outdoor seating areas and put no more than six people at a table. Also, movie theaters can only sell 35 percent of their seats, while museums must restrict entries.
Plans call for extending the curfew in France to 11 pm beginning June 9, and to permit indoor dining.
The final phase of the three-stage reopening plan is scheduled for June 30 when the curfew will end and all other restrictions will be lifted, if the pandemic continues to lessen.
