Curtain in the bars!

In France, in enhanced alert zones, bars have been closing since Monday, September 28 at 10 p.m. to fight against the spread of Covid-19.

This measure, announced a few days earlier by the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, concerns in particular Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and Lille.

The mayor EELV of Lyon regretted the announcement "without consultation" by the government of the closure of bars in his city.

"The new measures announced Wednesday by the minister came up against the previous ones announced (two days earlier, Editor's note) by the prefect, which had been discussed and concerted," regretted Grégory Doucet, Monday, in front of the press.

"I am surprised by this sudden change of method whereas a few days before, the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, had called me to congratulate us on the good collaboration with the prefecture", underlined the new mayor of Lyon, before his council municipal re-entry.

For lack of consultation, "I think the latest announcements are creating division, and in this moment of rebound of the epidemic that does not seem to me to be the right strategy", he insisted.

In addition, the city councilor says he is "skeptical" about this measure concerning drinking places, which, according to him, "risks moving the population from private space to public space".

In addition, the elected EELV indicated that he did not wish to give up the Festival of Lights, scheduled for early December, giving himself "until mid-November for a final decision".

A "suitable" party will be held if the authorized tonnage is 5,000 people or more, he added.

Traditionally, this event brings together hundreds of thousands of people in the city center.

His Bordeaux counterpart, EELV mayor Pierre Hurmic also denounced the lack of "consultation" and assured France Info that he was "struggling" to understand the new restrictions in the metropolis "because of their severity. I even want to to say their brutality ".

He spoke of an "extremely limited" consultation with the prefecture.

We learned the measures "suddenly without any prior consultation, neither with local elected officials nor with professionals," he said.

"I think it is better for young people to be in cafes where it is supervised, rather than end the evening in apartments, or even studios," he added.

"The municipal police will continue to enforce instructions, even if these instructions, we reserve the right to discuss them."

The prefect of Gironde announced on Friday new measures in the department and in Bordeaux, placed on "enhanced" alert.

Sports halls including indoor pools, party and multipurpose rooms, closed Saturday for 15 days.

With AFP

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