Macron Sips Coffee as Cafés Reopen after Virus Restrictions Ease

Parisians returned to their beloved café terraces and museums on Wednesday after a six-month shutdown.

Rules said cinemas, museums and theatres can reopen, while restaurants can serve customers outside in the first stage of the government’s plan. In this manner, cinemas can reopen at 35 per cent capacity.

This step ends the second-longest shutdown of eateries in Europe, after Poland.

In the same page, French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Jean Castex had a drink on a café terrace as the lockdown rules, brought into place to curb the spread of Covid-19, were finally relaxed.

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The nightly curfew, starting at 9pm instead of 7pm, is still part of the three-part plan to reopen the country. In addition, the first phase of the plan entails that restaurants can seat diners at only half of their outdoor capacity – with no more than six people allowed at one table.

The second stage of the plan is scheduled for June 9, with indoor service allowed in restaurants and the curfew beginning at 11pm.

The third and final step, planned for June 30, will lift all remaining social restrictions.

France has recorded more than 108,000 deaths from Covid-19 – one of the highest rates in Europe. Nonetheless, the country is now witnessing a reduction in the infection rate and critical care admissions.