Invited Sunday from Europe 1, the minister delegate for small and medium-sized enterprises Alain Griset believes that in view of the epidemic situation, it "seems unlikely" that restaurants can reopen on January 20.
INTERVIEW
While the fear of a new rebound in the coronavirus epidemic has pushed the government to impose new restrictions, including a reinforced curfew in 15 departments, the outlook grows dark for bars and restaurants, which are still hoping be able to reopen on January 20.
At the microphone of Europe 1, the minister delegate for small and medium-sized enterprises Alain Griset ensures that no final decision is taken, but that it "seems unlikely" that these establishments can reopen on that date.
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"In view of the figures that we have today, we are far from the figures that we had planned", explains the minister, recalling that Emmanuel Macron had indicated "that we had to be less than 5,000 cases per day to be able to consider its reopening ".
On Saturday, the number of new cases recorded over 24 hours was 3,466 against 19,348 on Friday.
During the holidays, this daily figure has varied enormously since mid-December, fluctuating between some 3,000 and more than 21,000.
The executive monitors the impact of the holidays
Today, continues Alain Griset, "we are waiting to see how the holiday weekends will or will not impact the pandemic, and it is then, in view of these elements, around January 10, that we can make a final decision ".
But, he concludes, "today, given the number of cases, it seems unlikely that we can open on January 20".