Paris (AFP)

Terraces, cinemas, theaters, museums ... Even with reduced gauges, the French are burning to find a little light Wednesday, when the epidemic is slowing down and the vaccination campaign reaches 20 million first injections.

French people have already been able to take advantage of the Ascension Bridge, the first long weekend since the lifting of travel restrictions in early May, to take the air in the countryside or by the sea.

From Wednesday, the curfew will be pushed back from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and it will be especially the time of reopening, even partial, for many establishments welcoming the public.

"The general well-being also passes by the resumption of social contacts", underlines the Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon, who however recalls the need to respect the health protocols, in the Sunday newspaper JDD.

The cinemas closed since October 30 will be able to reopen with a gauge of 35% and 800 spectators maximum, to give again a chance to films with the life interrupted too quickly in the fall, like "Adieu les cons" by Albert Dupontel, halo of Seven Caesar, or “Drunk” by Thomas Vinterberg, which won an Oscar.

Or to introduce new feature films, while films are scrambling to find a place in cinemas.

Also reopening, with reduced gauges, for museums, theaters, zoos, libraries and even all businesses.

As for bars and restaurants, only their terraces will be authorized, at 50% of their capacity and with tables of six maximum.

Rules still too complex for some restaurateurs, especially since the weather in May is uncertain.

"Can you imagine reopening a big machine, redoing a card, bringing back all the staff but ultimately having to cancel everything and throw away merchandise because it is raining? Impossible", told the JDD the media chief Philippe Etchebest who will not reopen his terrace service Wednesday.

"And then not everyone is concerned: barely 40% of restaurateurs in France have a terrace," he underlines.

It will therefore wait for the next stage of reopening, on June 9.

- Emergency brakes -

Cafés and restaurants will then be able to accommodate a limited number of customers indoors, the curfew will be moved to 11:00 p.m., the gauges will be relaxed for cultural venues.

This gradual reopening is made possible by the significant improvement in the epidemiological situation and the acceleration of the vaccination campaign.

On Sunday, 20.3 million French people received a first injection of vaccine and 8.8 million two doses.

The next target set by the government is 30 million first-time vaccines in mid-June.

To achieve it, vaccination has been open since Wednesday to over 18s for doses available overnight.

From June 15, all adults will be able to be vaccinated without any further conditions.

A date that the Ministry of Health does not rule out moving forward, if the situation allows.

On the epidemic side, the signs are also encouraging, with the number of Covid patients in intensive care services falling continuously (4,255 on Sunday, against 5,005 a week earlier, and 6,001 at the peak of the third wave on April 26) and a number of contaminations are also declining.

But if the curve were worryingly reversed, President Emmanuel Macron warned that "emergency brakes" could be activated.

"If the local situation requires it, we will take measures by returning to the previous step. If necessary and in consultation with elected officials, we will reconfine locally, as in Guyana since Friday", specifies Jérôme Salomon in the JDD, estimating that 'we were not "safe" from a fourth wave.

"Collective immunity will only be achieved when the vaccination is successful and the circulation of the virus is reduced to a minimum," he insists, emphasizing the importance of the future health pass and the control of travelers arriving from countries at risk, especially India.

© 2021 AFP