IN DETAIL: France's 4-step reopening from Covid restrictions
France is operating a phased reopening of the country's bars, cafés, restaurants, shops and cultural venues alongside a gradual extension of the curfew.
France has a plan for a gradual reopening of the country from the 'partial lockdown' in April while cafés, bars and restaurants - which were closed since October - will open up again.
Phases 1 and 2 are complete and phase 3 is due to happen at the beginning of June.
Here are the full details of each stage:
May 3rd
The end of daytime attestations (permission forms) for journeys exceeding 10km, meaning interregional travel for non-essential reasons was again allowed.
Secondary and high schools returned to in-person classes (some in smaller groups).
May 19th
The curfew was pushed back to 9pm-6am.
Non-essential shops, museums, theatres, tourist attractions and the outdoor areas of bars, cafés and terraces reopened - all with strict limits on capacity.
Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed in public spaces (up from six) but working from home continued to be the rule.
Spas also reopened for cures thermales - spa treatments prescribed by a doctor (yes, that is a thing in France and sometimes the State will even pay for it).
Health situation permitting, the final two stages happen in June.
June 9th
The curfew is pushed back further, to 11pm.
Bars, restaurants and cafés can reopen their indoor spaces, up to 50 percent capacity and with a maximum of six people per table. Bar service is not allowed and customers must provide their contact details if they are eating or drinking inside (but not if they are on the terraces).
Gyms reopen (with health rules and limits on the number of people allowed in at the same time).
Cultural or sporting events with up to 5,000 people will be allowed, but on the condition that participants provide a health pass proving that recently tested negative for Covid-19 or have been vaccinated for the virus.
Full details on France's plans for a health pass HERE.
Salons and fairs can reopen with a limit of 5,000 people maximum, also with rules requiring a health pass upon entry.
Non-EU tourists will be allowed back into France, also with a valid health pass.
Rules on remote working will be relaxed so that 100 percent home-working is no longer recommended, the exact details of the return to the office should be negotiated between employers and employees.
June 30th
The curfew ends.
Events with up to 1,000 participants are allowed, both indoors and outdoors, this too on the condition that participants provide a health pass with a recent negative Covid test or vaccine certificate. This opens the door for festivals this summer, although some have already cancelled.
The limits on establishments receiving public - such as restaurants, bars, cinemas and museums - might disappear, depending on the local health situation. The government has previously said it favours a localised approach, allowing for more activities in areas with low levels of spread.
MAP: Where in France has the lowest Covid rates?
The same rule will decide the size of events allowed in each area, which will depend on the type of event and the health situation in the local area.
See Also
France has a plan for a gradual reopening of the country from the 'partial lockdown' in April while cafés, bars and restaurants - which were closed since October - will open up again.
Phases 1 and 2 are complete and phase 3 is due to happen at the beginning of June.
Here are the full details of each stage:
May 3rd
The end of daytime attestations (permission forms) for journeys exceeding 10km, meaning interregional travel for non-essential reasons was again allowed.
Secondary and high schools returned to in-person classes (some in smaller groups).
May 19th
The curfew was pushed back to 9pm-6am.
Non-essential shops, museums, theatres, tourist attractions and the outdoor areas of bars, cafés and terraces reopened - all with strict limits on capacity.
Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed in public spaces (up from six) but working from home continued to be the rule.
Spas also reopened for cures thermales - spa treatments prescribed by a doctor (yes, that is a thing in France and sometimes the State will even pay for it).
Health situation permitting, the final two stages happen in June.
June 9th
The curfew is pushed back further, to 11pm.
Bars, restaurants and cafés can reopen their indoor spaces, up to 50 percent capacity and with a maximum of six people per table. Bar service is not allowed and customers must provide their contact details if they are eating or drinking inside (but not if they are on the terraces).
Gyms reopen (with health rules and limits on the number of people allowed in at the same time).
Cultural or sporting events with up to 5,000 people will be allowed, but on the condition that participants provide a health pass proving that recently tested negative for Covid-19 or have been vaccinated for the virus.
Full details on France's plans for a health pass HERE.
Salons and fairs can reopen with a limit of 5,000 people maximum, also with rules requiring a health pass upon entry.
Non-EU tourists will be allowed back into France, also with a valid health pass.
Rules on remote working will be relaxed so that 100 percent home-working is no longer recommended, the exact details of the return to the office should be negotiated between employers and employees.
June 30th
The curfew ends.
Events with up to 1,000 participants are allowed, both indoors and outdoors, this too on the condition that participants provide a health pass with a recent negative Covid test or vaccine certificate. This opens the door for festivals this summer, although some have already cancelled.
The limits on establishments receiving public - such as restaurants, bars, cinemas and museums - might disappear, depending on the local health situation. The government has previously said it favours a localised approach, allowing for more activities in areas with low levels of spread.
MAP: Where in France has the lowest Covid rates?
The same rule will decide the size of events allowed in each area, which will depend on the type of event and the health situation in the local area.
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