Since the official closure on 14 March due to covid-19, all bars in Paris were able to open on Monday after being declared a green zone.
The Île-de-France region, where Paris is located, has gone from being an “orange zone” to a “green zone”. As a result, bars and restaurants were able to open completely from Monday.
Since the start of the confinement in France on 14 March, bars and restaurants have had to close to the public. On 1 June, only those establishments in the region that had a terrace could open to the public. Now, every bar and restaurant can open its doors to the public after the announcement of the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron on Sunday 14th.
However, the rule changes are a bit abrupt for some merchants. Of the 18,000 establishments in the city of Paris, 6,000 do not have a terrace. And it is not yet known exactly how many have reopened their doors. Some have decided to prolong the closure to have more time to prepare a suitable reopening.
On the other hand, measures to protect against the coronavirus are still in place. Although some restoration professionals have requested that these measures be relaxed. All staff members in a bar, café or restaurant are required to wear a mask, as are customers. However, customers may remove their mask while eating.
Among other measures, only ten people per table will be accepted; a distance of one meter must be maintained between each table, something that Franck Delvau, president of the Umih, considers “the most complicated”. And in Paris, which is known for having small restaurants and beer gardens where the tables are piled up, they would have to reduce their seating capacity to six tables.
More street space to accommodate more customers
The Parisian bars and restaurants will still be able to opt for more space on the road. As announced at the beginning of June and until 30 September, bars, cafés and restaurants can install new terraces. A declaration system is being put in place to benefit from part of the public space.
Normally subject to authorisation, these temporary extensions are exceptionally registered free of charge. An application form is available on the website of the city of Paris.
Establishments applying for roadway extension must respect certain rules:
- *To ensure public peace and quiet, these spaces will operate from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
- *The terraces must have the least possible visual impact. They can be furnished with tables, chairs and umbrellas. But not with fixed devices. The furniture must be discreet and homogeneous to integrate harmoniously into the urban landscape.
- * Finally, the establishments must be equipped above all with gel, masks and gloves and respect the physical distance.
Don’t drink and drive. Enjoy responsibly.