France eases rules on social distancing at events with under 5,000 people
While some event rules have been relaxed, others have been tightened in locations designated as COVID-19 hotspots (known as “red zones”) in an attempt to safely kick-start France’s economy in some areas while battling the pandemic. The announcement, made by prime minister Jean Castex in an interview with France Inter on August 26th, included the following updates:
• The maximum attendance for any public event in France remains 5,000.
• Wearing masks is now mandatory in all entertainment venues.
• Social distancing and mask-wearing are both required in events that take place in COVID-19 hotspots.
Earlier this week it was announced that the ban on events with more than 5,000 people will remain in place until at least November.
As of August 27th, there are 21 regions classified as red zones in France, most of which are close to Paris and the French Riviera. There were 5,429 new cases of COVID-19 reported in France on August 26th, according to the New York Times. The seven-day average for the past week is 4,078 cases.
Photo credit: Pascal Montary
