France: thousands of people gathered in Paris without social distancing
Sylvie Claire / June 21, 2020
While gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited, concerts have been observed in the capital with sometimes a compact crowd.
Thousands of people danced on Sunday evening June 21 in several areas of northern Paris on the occasion of the music festival while gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited as part of the Covid-19 epidemic . Certain events could nevertheless "be the subject of a derogatory regime", with "prior authorization from the prefect of the department, in conjunction with the Mayor", according to the Ministry of Culture.
An impressive crowd gathered in Square Villemin, next to the Canal Saint-Martin, for an "Electronic Aperitif".
This meeting organized by the collective of the same name, Apéro électronique, was to end at 8 p.m. Several hundred people had gathered since the beginning of the afternoon:
Other gatherings were noted, notably rue de Paradis in the 10th arrondissement. In this street, hundreds of people - probably more - who danced at the end of the afternoon.
On a small square in the 11th arrondissement, residents gathered to sing loudly the old tube by Mylène Farmer "Désenchantée", spit out by a powerful sound system, dancing with visible happiness. In Ménilmontant (20th) on a small square known for its bars, a brass band is installed, sellers of merguez, tables are set up under marquees to protect themselves from the rain. "The Fête de la musique is important, it's a national event", says Violette, 28. Did she expect respect for the rules of distancing? "No!" She replies, laughing.
Reviews from Internet users and healthcare professionals
"I'm afraid we're going to a second wave", "it's irresponsible", "a music festival just after a major health crisis, what a genius idea!" : on Twitter, many netizens sharply criticized these gatherings. “This is not at all what the so-called 'progressive' deconfinement involved. I understand that the Fête de la Musique is liberating but could we not avoid it this year? ”Asked Gilbert Deray, chief doctor at La Pitié-Salpêtrière on Twitter.
Ce n’est pas du tout ce que le deconfinement dit progressif impliquait. Je comprends que la fête de la musique soit libératoire mais ne pouvait-on l’éviter cette année ? Une reprise de l’épidémie serait catastrophique également sur le plan psychologique. https://t.co/WCipXX8jGz
— deray gilbert (@GilbertDeray) June 21, 2020