Closing of nightclubs: the Council of State examines an appeal to request their reopening

Deprived of opening during the end of the year celebrations, the nightclubs do not intend to let it go.

The national union of nightclubs and leisure places (SNDLL) seized the Council of State for an interim measure to cancel the closure of these establishments from December 10 to January 6, decided by the government in the face of the fifth wave of Covid.

A public hearing is to be held this Monday at 10:30 am.

"The decision to submit an application for interim relief (interim relief) to the Council of State is justified by the urgency to decide on our reopening in a traditionally strong period, often the best one where we achieve a very important part of our figure business since it is the end of year celebrations, ”the union had already indicated in a press release.

Because the closure of the only discotheques a few weeks after their reopening is at the same time inconsistent, hypocritical and unfair, because we do not resign ourselves, we seize the @Conseil_Etat.

pic.twitter.com/KIS2iUsfBP

- SNDLL (@SNDLLactu) December 13, 2021

"The holidays represent 15 to 20% on average of the turnover", explains Patrick Malvaës, president of the SNDLL.

For discos located in ski resorts, already closed last year, "we can even achieve a loss of 25% of the annual figure," he added.

The union claims 435 members, or about a quarter of the 1,600 establishments in the sector.

"Places at high risk of transmission"

For its part, Bercy indicated on Tuesday that in addition to compensation for fixed costs and the maintenance of full support for partial activity, the government has decided to reactivate exemptions from charges and payment aid "for months of December and January ”.

The closing of nightclubs to slow the curve is not surprising.

The Institut Pasteur study that we unveiled at the beginning of December recalled the risk of contamination increased tenfold inside these establishments: a person over 40 who goes to a club has a 270% more chance than another. to be infected.

This "excess risk" even climbs to 790% among those under 40, over the study period.

Read also Covid-19: private parties, bars, transport ... what Pasteur's new study says on the places most at risk

The same study concluded that nightclubs were “places with a high risk of transmission”, because they are closed places with poor ventilation, where the virus can remain more easily suspended in the air.

The nightclubs reopened in France on July 9, with a health pass, after 16 months of closure.