Calendar: The key dates to know for the next phases of France's lockdown

Travel, schools, concerts and sports - here are the key dates on France's calendar for gradually loosening its lockdown restrictions.

June 15th

• France reopened its borders for travel from within the EU, UK and Schengen zones with no need for travel permits. Travel from outside Europe remains restricted and there is a voluntary quarantine for travellers from the UK.
• The whole of mainland France was declared a 'green zone'. Previously the greater Paris Île-de-France area had been an orange zone. The change means that bars, cafés and restaurants reopened fully instead of just their terraces, and swimming pools, theatres, museums and tourist accommodation also reopened.

June 22nd

• School once again becomes compulsory for children at nursery, primary school and secondary schools. Schools had reopened on a limited basis from May 11th, with health measures meaning that many children were attending part time. Schools will reopen fully from June 22nd and parents will no longer have the option to keep their children at home if they prefer.
• Cinemas reopen across the country
• Casinos reopen
• Holiday centres reopen fully
• Team sports can resume, although only non-contact sports 

Week beginning June 22nd

• The Ministry and Labour and Ministry of Health will present an updated and simplified protocol for companies around having employees back in offices and workplaces. It is expected that the 4m sq minimum space per employee could be relaxed, as has already happened in schools.

July 1st

• Restrictions on travel from outside Europe will begin to be lifted. France has indicated that it will follow the EU's proposal on this as it begins to open up its external borders. The reopening is likely to be done on a country-by-country basis with the health situation taken into account.

July 10th

• This is when the current State of Health Emergency in France expires, and the government has said it will not seek to extend it. The government is instead seeking to pass a bill that gives extra powers to reintroduce controls at a local level if the health situation demands it.

READ ALSO What does it mean that France won't renew its State of Health Emergency?

July 11th

• Sports stadiums and racecourses will reopen to the public - albeit with a maximum crowd of 5,000. Events involving more than 1,500 people will need to be declared to authorities in advance
• River cruises will once again be allowed, a decision is still pending on sea cruises

July

• Macron will again address the nation, to lay out the latest measures and to look again at the economic challenge facing the country.

Mid August

• At present the ban on gatherings of more than 5,000 people runs until September 1st, but at the start of August this will be reviewed and if the health situation permits the ban could be lifted from mid August

September 1st

• Gatherings of more than 5,000 people will be allowed, if the restrictions are not lifted in mid August
• School year restarts, with school once again compulsory for all

September

• Discotheques and nightclubs reopen, if they have not already
• Professional sports clubs are looking to September to restart their season, both France's rugby and football leagues formally abandoned the 2019/20 season in March
• Sea cruises will restart, if they haven't already