Paris closes all bars following a sharp increase in coronavirus cases amongst young people

Paris has closed all bars following a sharp increase in coronavirus cases amongst young people.

As of today, Tuesday 6th October, bars in Paris will be closed after a spike in COVID-19 cases among people aged between 20 and 30 years old.

Restaurants in the city will be permitted to stay open, providing that track & trace details are taken and hand sanitizer is provided, with restrictions also imposed on gatherings and music in public spaces.

The news follows the French government’s previously announced restrictions that Paris and 11 other cities would need to adhere to new guidance, banning gatherings of over 1,000 people and introducing a 10PM curfew, after positive coronavirus tests in the country rose from below 5% to 7.4%.

It is not yet clear how long the new restrictions will remain in place.

Back in August, a 10,000-person rave in the French region of Lozère was locked down by authorities. It comes at a time when illegal raves are on the rise across Europe, as well as sanctioned, legal open air dance music events in France and Italy, where a spike in cases has been partly blamed on nightlife events and holidaymakers. The resurgence of parties both licensed and unlicensed has proven controversial, with many questioning the safety of such events, even with mask-wearing regulations and other measures in place.