Thibaud Hue, edited by Solène Delinger 7:15 p.m., December 26, 2021

As the Omicron variant spreads like wildfire across France, a Sanitary Defense Council will be held tomorrow.

New measures to curb the epidemic wave will have to be announced immediately.

The restaurant world, which is barely recovering from lockdowns, fears these restrictions. 

The highly contagious Omicron variant plays the troublemaker during this holiday season.

While the bar of 100,000 contaminations recorded in 24 hours was crossed yesterday, a health defense council was set on Monday, December 27.

The restaurant industry fears the announcement of new restrictions.

Restrictions for December 31

"These measures will be even more restrictive for our profession", deplores at the microphone of Europe Franck Delvau, president of the Union of trades and industries of the hotel trade (UMIH).

Restaurant owners are bracing for the announcement of restrictions for the evening of December 31.

A big shortfall for the entire profession, which was impatiently awaiting these festivities and who fears that the new government measures will be impossible to apply.

"We know, having been in contact with the Paris police headquarters, that there may be restrictions for New Year's Eve," explains Franck Delvau.

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Refusal of identity checks

"We have been asking our customers for the health pass since September. If we are forced, from Monday, to ask for even more, like the vaccination pass, it will be impossible."

The president of the UMIH rejects the possibility of having to control these customers.

"It is out of the question that we ask anyone for identity documents to enter our establishments," he said on Europe.

Restaurant owners also fear the consequences of the return to teleworking on their turnover.

To face it, they ask "for the reactivation of aid and the reactivation of the solidarity fund for our establishments".

"We can see that the next few weeks will still be very complicated," laments Franck Delvau. 

Like restaurant owners, those involved in the world of culture await with apprehension the announcement of new health restriction measures.

Certain cultural places are preparing for a curfew or to welcome the public in reduced capacity.