Live events now able to go ahead in France with under 5k people

Indoor gigs and events with under 5,000 people in attendance and social distancing measures in place are now able to go ahead in France.

The country’s Prime Minister Jean Castex confirmed the news in an interview with French media, noting that the “only exception is departments designated as ‘red-zones’ where cases are spiking, including cities such as Paris, Lyon, and the Bouches-du-Rhône and Gironde areas where Marseille and Bordeaux respectively are located.”

The PM stated that it will remain compulsory to wear masks and remain seated at all times during these ‘small events,’ which is said to include concerts, nightclubs, theatre shows and cinemas. Gatherings of more than 5,000 people will remained banned until November.

The move makes France the first major country hit by Covid-19 to put in motion a return to live shows and events without social distancing. The country also recently announced plans for a €2 billion economic recovery package for the culture sector.

The news will be welcomed by many event professionals across the UK who will be watching closely over the next few weeks to see how things develop in France’s live events sector.