The authorities warn that the incidence rate exceeds 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants
The bars, gyms and swimming pools in Paris and its metropolitan region will be closed for two weeks to contain the outbreak of coronavirus cases, by virtue of new measures that do authorize – with limitations – the opening of restaurants.
The French government declared the Paris region a “maximum alert zone” on Sunday and on Monday the authorities announced the details of some restrictions that will come into effect on Tuesday. As anticipated, bars and cafes, so far with limited hours, will have to lower the blind for at least two weeks.
The restaurants may remain open if they comply with “a new sanitary protocol”, according to the Police prefect, Didier Lallement. The measures that would come into force include limiting the number of people per table to six or guaranteeing the safety distance between customers.
Theaters and cinemas will remain open, as will shopping centers, while gyms and swimming pools will be closed, limited only to use by minors and in a school setting. Nor will they be able to open game rooms or dance halls.
The Gallic authorities have taken this step because they understand that a level of “3,500 new daily cases” and an incidence rate that is already “higher than 200 per 100,000 inhabitants” is unacceptable, as the general director of the regional health agency has explained. , Aurélien Rousseau.
In the group of young people between 20 and 30 years old, the accumulated incidence rate is already close to 500. The authorities will reduce the capacity in universities after the latest outbreaks detected in these centers, in which they have urged extreme precautions.
Rousseau has warned that hospital pressure “is strong”, as it is expected to reach 50 percent occupancy in ICU beds during the next two weeks, according to Franceinfo. The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, is confident, however, that the measures announced this Monday will allow “avoiding overload.”
The authorities have advocated telecommuting where possible to limit social interactions, while keeping the maximum number of people who can meet on public roads at ten. Hidalgo has affirmed that they will continue to be “extremely vigilant”, although he trusts that the situation “improves” in these 15 days.
