With COVID-19 case counts surpassing March and April figures throughout much of Europe, lawmakers in France and Germany will reimpose lockdowns with dire implications for nightlife.
In a televised address on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that “all French regions are on high alert,” and that sweeping restrictions would be put in place on Friday. As the country reports over 36,000 daily coronavirus cases on average, people will be required to stay at home except to buy essential goods, visit doctors, or exercise for up to an hour per day.
“The virus is circulating at a speed that not even the most pessimistic forecasts had anticipated,” Macron said. “Like all our neighbors, we are submerged by the sudden acceleration of the virus.”
Meanwhile, bars, nightclubs, restaurants and theaters in Germany will be forced to close from November 2nd-30th. Unlike in France, shops will be allowed to stay open with strict social distancing measures in place. The guidance was agreed upon between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the heads of regional governments.
“We need to take action now,” Merkel said. “Our health system can still cope with this challenge today, but at this speed of infections it will reach the limits of its capacity within weeks.”
Germany’s lockdown will override a ruling in favor of lifting the 11:00 PM curfew on Berlin bars and nightclubs. The case, which was brought on by the owners of 11 establishments, found that the cutoff was a “disproportionate encroachment on the freedom of the industry.”
Schools in both Germany and France will be allowed to remain open amid the upcoming COVID-19 lockdowns.
Image credit: Alexander Popov
