Covid-19: meeting at the Élysée Palace to rule on the reopening of nightclubs

Published on : 06/21/2021 – 08:09

Emmanuel Macron brings together, Monday, June 21, at the Elysee the representatives of nightclubs and the nightlife to take stock of the reopening and support for the sector, particularly affected by the health crisis, announced the Elysee on Sunday.

This meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m., Music Day, will be held with the Minister of Culture, Roselyne Bachelot, and the Minister Delegate, Alain Griset, in charge of small and medium-sized enterprises. At the end of this meeting, they could announce the reopening date, which professionals expect as soon as possible, June 30 if possible, after 15 months in complete shutdown.

Discussions focus on the health protocol to be applied in establishments, where barrier measures are difficult to adopt.

“Does it go through an exceptional sanitary pass – that is to say that it would be required for less than 1000 people, it is a possibility and I think it is quite logical to do it? ? Are there any ventilation systems required (…), that’s all that we are in the process of fine-tuning, “the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran explained Thursday.

One billion euros in annual turnover

The two main professional unions in the sector, Umih and GNI, have agreed that the health pass is required at entry, while also asking for the possibility that customers can enter after having completed a self-test on site.

According to professionals, the protocol should also include obligations regarding ventilation and wearing a mask.

The nightclubs represent 30,000 direct jobs and a billion euros in annual turnover, according to the unions.

Out of 1,600 nightclubs in France, 152 had closed permanently at the end of March 2021, according to them, and 25% will not be able to open due to the impossibility of meeting the health protocol, in particular because of the ventilation system.

On Monday evening, a concert will also be held in the main courtyard of the Élysée Palace on the occasion of the 40th edition of the Fête de la Musique, notably with Jean-Michel Jarre and Marc Cerrone.

In accordance with the health protocols in force, the public will be able to attend the concert in a seated configuration, while respecting the distances and the 65% gauge, said the Elysee. The event will be broadcast live on CultureBox.

With AFP