Due to a high circulation of the virus in the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the authorities have decided to put in place certain restrictions.
Bars are particularly affected, they will have to close at 10 p.m.
and throughout the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department.
Faced with a rapid deterioration in health indices in recent days and a "high or very high" Covid-19 circulation, the authorities announced on Tuesday a "turn of the screw", for the moment measured, which concerns in particular bars.
"The health situation is bad"
"We can not wait any longer before taking new measures," said Eric Spitz, prefect of this department, in an audio conference.
He announced a series of measures applicable Thursday for 15 days, including the closure of bars at 10 p.m., the ban on alcohol consumption on public roads between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., the sale of alcohol to take away after 10 p.m., 'call books' with contact details for bar customers, the ban on local festivals, student evenings, school outings or outings.
Changing rooms will be prohibited in sports facilities, except for professional or school use.
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The Pyrénées-Atlantiques saw the incidence rate drop from 125 to 208 per 100,000 inhabitants in less than a week on Tuesday, the highest departmental rate in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, announced the Regional Health Agency.
The incidence rate is also worrying among those over 65, with 68.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
"The health situation is bad, but the situation in hospitals is still under control," said Eric Spitz, with 31 people hospitalized for Covid in the department, including nine in intensive care.
No drastic measures for the moment
The prefect explained that he did not wish for more radical measures for the time being, such as the lowering of the gauge from 5,000 to 1,000 in the stadiums - which have not seen the emergence of clusters, he recalled -, and wanting to "preserve an economic, social and cultural life as normal as possible".
But he did not rule out stricter measures in the very short term, if the incidence rate exceeded 250.
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"The philosophy of these measures is to give a sufficient turn of screw so that the citizens become aware of the measures (...) especially in the private sphere, and the respect of the gestures barrier", he indicated.
The ARS also stressed that the department "is one of those who test the most", with 2,436 people tested over seven days, against an average of 2,300 nationally, 1,680 regionally.