Between the curfew and government recommendations, this New Year 2021 will be unlike any other.
The authorities have in any case indicated their willingness to apply zero tolerance, while the epidemic continues to spread.
Europe 1 takes stock of what it will be possible to do for this New Year's Eve.
While some elected officials are calling for a new localized confinement and an acceleration of the vaccination, an unprecedented New Year is looming this Thursday.
The French do not intend to celebrate the New Year alone.
Many of them have planned to meet with family or friends ... sometimes bypassing health restrictions.
Between the curfew and the health restrictions against Covid-19, what will it be possible to do on the evening of December 31?
>> LIVE
- Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Thursday, December 31
Will it be possible to travel on New Year's Eve?
A relaxation of the rules governing travel had been envisaged for a time, as on the evening of December 24, but it will ultimately not take place.
The curfew, in effect from 8 p.m. and until 6 a.m., will however be maintained.
People who go away from their home should therefore consider sleeping with their hosts so as not to be exposed to a fine of 135 euros by traveling at night.
Gatherings on public roads are also prohibited.
The Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, clarified that there would be no indulgence.
Wanting to fight against festive gatherings as well as "urban violence" on New Year's Eve, he asked the prefects to set up "visible" control devices as soon as the curfew comes into force and to concentrate the action of the police "in town centers and in sensitive areas and areas most subject to these phenomena".
More than 100,000 national, municipal and gendarmes police officers should be mobilized.
>> READ ALSO
- Covid-19: these young people who need to celebrate New Year's Eve after a hard year
Can we organize a meeting at home?
Government recommendations recommend that no more than six people, not including children, meet in an apartment or house.
Failure to comply with this threshold will not, however, result in verbalization during a private party insofar as it is indeed a "recommendation" and it is impossible to prohibit meetings in places of residence.
The government calls for "everyone's responsibility" so that social distancing and the wearing of masks are respected.
Can the police intervene at the home of an individual?
As usual, the police can issue a ticket in the event of nighttime noise.
The fine is 68 euros, increased to 180 euros if the bill is not paid within 45 days.
If the police are only allowed to enter a home with the agreement of the occupant, they will always be able to observe on the spot the non-respect of social distancing and barrier gestures.
This can give rise to a new verbalization.
The decree of October 29, 2020 indicates that "hygiene measures […], including physical distancing of at least one meter between two people, […] must be observed in all places and in all circumstances".
Offenders are liable to a fine of 135 euros.
CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS
> Covid-19 vaccines: what do we really know about their side effects?
> What do we know about "long Covid", these patients who are going through hell?
> These three facets of the coronavirus that you may not have heard of
> When are we in contact?
And other questions that we ask ourselves every day
> Coronavirus: the 5 mistakes not to make with your mask
What measures are in place against illegal parties?
Police and gendarmes should pay particular attention to clandestine parties, that is to say, festive meetings open to the public.
Thus, there is a risk of being fined "if one organizes or participates in a private party in an establishment closed because of sanitary measures (restaurant, multipurpose room, etc.)" or if "the evening is organized in a private home but clearly exceeds the private framework (for example, when a paying entry system is set up) ", details the ministry.
In this case, they can question the organizer and initiate proceedings against him.