Since Monday, cinemas, holiday centers, casinos and game rooms have reopened. Athletes can also enjoy group activities again. But the hour of deconfinement did not ring for everyone. "Subject to a new assessment of the epidemiological situation, the return to school may be marked by further relaxation," announced the executive. Fairs, exhibitions and shows, discos and maritime cruises still have to wait.
Nightclubs.The decision provokes the ire of those responsible for the sector. Party-goers will find the doors closed to their nightclubs at least until September. "The government signs the death warrant of nightclubs," reacted Saturday the Union of hotel trades and industries (UMIH), which represents the 1,500 French nightclubs. According to Laurent Lutse, president at the UMIH of the coffee, breweries and night establishments branch, "wild parties" where alcohol "flows freely" are increasing through the rental of properties transformed into "ephemeral cultural places", without no supervision related to the Covid or to the consumption of drugs or alcohol, whereas the discotheques which have "trained professionals" to manage overflows on the public highway. A criticism revived after the Sunday broadcast of several videos of rallies on the occasion of the music festival.
International maritime cruises . If river cruises will regain water from July 11, international maritime cruises remain prohibited. During the health crisis, several cruise liners were the scene of dramatic situations, forced for some to wander at sea with the sick on board, or the dead in the face of the refusals of the ports to let them dock. The case of the Diamond Princess, and its 4,000 confined passengers and its 700 cases of coronavirus was notably remembered, followed then by many "contaminated" ships such as the Zaandam, Coral Princess, or the Costa Magica.
Fairs, exhibitions, shows. Cancellations and postponements have fallen in series in recent months. Their impact amounts to 15 billion euros, according to the Union of Event Trades. "This represents a third of the annual contribution of our industry," says Unimev in Les Echos. In total, 4,500 events since the start of the crisis were canceled and 3,000 were postponed, making events one of the sectors most affected by the crisis. "The reopening of the exhibition centers, at the latest on September 1, is essential and all the necessary sanitary measures are ready to be implemented", claims the managers of large exhibition centers in Europe. Music festivals of more than 5,000 people are also still banned.
As for sport , collective activities restarted on Monday in stadiums, gymnasiums, whether covered or outdoors, "with suitable prevention measures". Combat sports will still have to wait. And it is on July 11 that the enclosures will again be authorized to the public, just like the racetracks, with a "maximum gauge" of 5,000 people which will remain "in principle" in force until September. A new review of the epidemiological situation will be carried out in mid-July "to decide if a relaxation is possible for the second part of August", which notably concerns the resumption of Ligue 1, while the Professional Football League is plowing on a scenario advocating a return of spectators "100%".
What about theaters? If officially they have been able to reopen their doors, in reality, few will give performances again. Most are considering a resumption in September.
