Coronavirus: Joggers, dogs and confinement not always respected on the Côte d'Azur - 20 Minutes

  • For Cannes mayor David Lisnard, the possibility of postponing the Cannes Festival to June or July is compatible "in terms of availability, logistics, assembly".
  • "It remains to know the evolution of the epidemic, when it can be stopped and when we can return to normal life," said the elected official.

World events canceled with a shovel, Cannes Festival at best postponed, on the Croisette side, the impact of the coronavirus epidemic takes on an international echo. In addition to having to manage these schedule changes that will weigh on the local economy, the city is also preparing to cope with an influx of patients. The Palais des Festivals could notably serve as a field hospital if necessary.

David Lisnard, the LR mayor of the city, answered questions from 20 Minutes from his office in the town hall, where he continues to manage the crisis, in all directions.

After having postponed the deadline for this announcement several times, the Cannes Film Festival finally said on Thursday that it would not take place in May. Does the possibility of a postponement, in June or July as mentioned, seem tenable to you?

The concern today is above all to save lives. We redesigned the palace program to postpone as many events as possible after the health crisis and we worked on a schedule that is compatible in terms of availability, logistics and assembly. The dates that are foreseen are all technically tenable. It remains to know the evolution of the epidemic, when it can be stopped. According to the models, we could be in decline after a peak reached in two, three weeks. But when we can return to normal life, the question is there.

Wouldn't organizing a Cannes Film Festival in full in a period when tourist frequentation is, in normal times, very strong vis-à-vis the hotel offer?

No no. I do not think so. Tourism should have restarted anyway by then. To tell the truth, I would be extremely happy that we have this problem.

You are chairman of the supervisory board of the Cannes Hospital Center. What is the situation there?

I have a multi-day report. And, for the moment, the hospital is coping and anticipating the scaling up. Some services, which do not fall under the coronavirus, are in a position to be relocated to private clinics, from Monday, if necessary. I also proposed to open the Palais des Festivals to install a field hospital there if necessary and also spaces in the Victory Palace [where volleyball teams play].

The mayor of Nice has issued a decree to prohibit pedestrians from the Promenade des Anglais and he also wishes to set up a curfew. Are such measures possible in Cannes?

You have to be pragmatic. And you have to be uncompromising to enforce the rules. But, as much as the beaches, it was too much area to watch [the mayor of Cannes took a decree to close them before a prefectural decision imposing a ban on access at the departmental level], as much our walks, for the are held. There were many people at the start of the confinement and the municipal police have issued 117 fines so far. But things have calmed down since then and I think there has been an awareness. We will adapt the device if necessary. And if the state decides to put in place a curfew, we will apply it.

In addition to these measures, you are opening a reception center for the homeless inside the Palais des Festivals…

They still represent the few rare groupings that the municipal police have to manage. We needed places to protect them but also, because they can be exposed and therefore be a catalyst for the epidemic, to protect others. We have therefore reorganized the existing reception area on Lycklama Street, spacing out the beds, and we are going to open this new space at the palace which is also suitable for containment measures.

The impact of this crisis will be significant for Cannes where tourism plays an important role. How do you start to manage afterwards?

We are in constant contact with professionals for everything that is urgent. It will be hard for everyone. It will even be very hard but the rebound will be stronger. But, anyway, for the moment, I repeat, the important thing is above all to save lives.

Cinema

The Cannes Film Festival will not be held from May 12 to 23, and could be postponed

Health

124 more cases in 24 hours, the Paca region is organizing in the face of "possible saturation"

  • Coronavirus
  • Nice
  • Cannes film festival
  • Cannes