France to ease social distancing rules for events with under 5000 people, government confirms

News

France is relaxing its rules around social distancing at events where fewer than 5,000 people are present.

The move was announced by prime minister Jean Castex, and has been made in an attempt to kick-start the French economy.

In an interview with France Inter yesterday, Castex said that the maximum attendance for any public event remains 5,000, wearing masks was mandatory in all entertainment venues, and social distancing and mask-wearing woud be required in COVID-19 hotspots, known as “red zones”. The announcement was further confirmed by Frence culture minister Roselyne Bachelot in a tweet.

The ban on events with more than 5,000 people is expected to remain in place until at least November.

Earlier this month, 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.

Meanwhile, three crowded concerts were recently held in Germany to study the spread of coronavirus in an indoor environment.

For more on how coronavirus is affecting the future of live music and events, read DJ Mag’s latest feature on the future of techno tourism.