Bars Closed in Paris, New Rules for Restaurants

Paris and its inner suburbs are falling into the maximum alert zone due to the coronavirus pandemic: starting from Tuesday 6 October, for 15 days, the bars in the city will be closed completely by order of the government. Restaurants, at the moment, remain open, but they will nevertheless have to comply with a reinforced health protocol. The establishments concerned by these measures are those registered as 'drinking establishments' but 'offering the sale of drinks as an accessory to catering'.

The new health rules for restaurants in Paris

These ultimate measures were unveiled on Monday morning by the Paris police chief Didier Lallement. So, what are the new health rules for restaurants in Paris? First of all, the restaurant owner will have to make hydroalcoholic gel available on all tables and the distance 'between the chairs' of different groups of guests must be 1.5 meters. Restaurant owners must also display the total reception capacity outside, in order to facilitate any checks. If a restaurant does not respect the rules, it may be closed, immediately.

For their part, customers must continue to wear their masks for as long as possible, except of course while eating. Groups of guests at the table will be limited to 6, and no more than 10. Paying at the table will be preferred, and customers will be encouraged to book to avoid crowds around restaurants. Customers will also need to leave their name, phone number and possibly their email address in a contact book. They can then be notified in the event that other customers visiting the restaurant test positive for Covid-19.

Restaurant situation in Aix-Marseille

Things seem to be going in the right direction for restaurateurs in Aix and Marseille. On Sunday evening, Bernard Marty, president of the Boûches-du-Rhône section of the Union des métiers et des industries de l'Hôtellerie, announced via a press release that restaurateurs in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille could reopen as soon as possible on October 5, after a week of closure. They will have to follow the same reinforced health protocols as in Paris.