Paris (AFP)

Relief for the world of music and the night: concerts with standing audiences will again be authorized in France from June 30 and discotheques will reopen "from July 9," the government announced on Monday.

These party venues will only be reopened on presentation of a health pass (proof of vaccination or recent negative test), with reception capacities reduced to 75% for indoor events, and the mask will be heavily used. recommended without being mandatory, detailed the government after a meeting at the Elysee Palace with representatives of the sector.

For discotheques, the reopening of July 9 "is a real satisfaction" and "the compromise seems acceptable", judges the vice-president of the national union of discotheques and places of leisure Christian Jouny.

"We are very satisfied. The president has heard the profession. He finally allows the night to see the day again. We can finally redo this festive profession which is fantastic. The public is so waiting," said for his part Jean Roch Pedri, manager of the VIP Room nightclub in St-Tropez.

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The only sector that has remained closed since the start of the pandemic, ie 15 months, the nightlife is coming out of a "difficult period" for its managers and a "long wait for customers", recognized the Minister for SMEs Alain Griset Monday.

"Between July and December 2020", the discotheques represent "the economic sector, which has been the most supported with the solidarity fund", and the government will have to "continue to support them financially as long as there is will have restrictive sanitary measures "indicated Mr. Griset.

The discotheques will be able to reopen on July 9 but the access will be reserved for the holders of a sanitary pass, with a gauge of 100% outside and 75% inside, without obligatory wearing of the mask.

A choice that some people decry in the medical community: "to recommend for this summer only open-air discos would be a wise decision, except to opt for the access on vaccination passport", estimated Sunday the epidemiologist Antoine Flahault on Twitter.

For the Deputy Minister Alain Griset, "the idea is to allow young and old to party in safety".

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"At 75% of the gauge, without a mask, it is the party which can finally take back its rights", rejoiced Jean Roch, who considers the use of the "legitimate" health pass.

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Same story with Tommy Vaudecrane, president of Technopol, organizer of the Techno Parade, for whom "these concessions are necessary for the party to resume under better conditions".

For standing concerts, the same gauges apply, but the sanitary pass "will only be required (...) beyond 1,000 expected spectators", as is currently the case for all shows in a seated configuration. , specified the Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot.

"A health pass is not a vaccination pass, it is not an obligation to vaccinate", insisted the minister, during the presentation of this calendar.

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This pass is accepted by professionals "but it is a brake, people do not understand it", judged after AFP the head of the Musical and Variety Show Syndicate (Prodiss) Malika Seguineau.

It is obtained by presenting proof of complete vaccination or by a test, PCR or antigen, negative for Covid-19.

As such, "barnums" offering rapid screening tests may be set up at the entrance to concerts and discos for customers who have not been able to validate their pass, said Ms. Bachelot and Mr. Griset on Monday.

For concerts of less than 1,000 people, which will not be subject to the health pass requirement, the mask will however remain compulsory, including outdoors.

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