PARIS (FRANCE) – Sporting black arm-bands and banging pots and pans outside their restaurants on Friday, restaurateurs and their staff urged the French government not to order tighter curbs to stem the spread of the pandemic.
The previous day, Health Minister Olivier Veran had said Paris region was set to be placed under maximum coronavirus alert from Monday as the number of cases is rising.
There are fears that the new curbs could force restaurant owners to go out of business.
“It’s a great concern for our jobs, for our wages, for our future,” said Andrea Vincenzi, manager of La Ville de Provins restaurant near the Gare de l’Est railway station in the French capital.
The minister said that Paris region had passed the three government criteria to be placed under the highest level of alert. Over the past 24 hours, the number of coronavirus infections has passed 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Double Michelin-star fame chef Philippe Etchebest urged restaurant and bar owners to protest against possible closure by standing outside their establishments before lunch service and clang pots and pans.