In a press conference on Thursday November 12, Prime Minister Jean Castex offered some prospects for retailers affected by closures during the new lockdown, suggesting that businesses considered non-essential could reopen their doors from December 1, with reinforced sanitary protocols.
Shops keep their curtains down until December 1
The Prime Minister's press conference was eagerly awaited by retailers, who were hoping for an easing of restrictions and a possible reopening before December 1.
During his speech on October 28, Emmanuel Macron announced that the situation would be reassessed a fortnight later: "We will then assess whether we can alleviate certain constraints, in particular on businesses," he said, adding: "If within 15 days we have a better grasp of the situation, we will then be able to reassess things and hope to open certain businesses, particularly in this all-important period before the Christmas holidays."
However, halfway through the announced duration of containment, the government has opted for the status quo.
"I know the anxieties of shopkeepers who just want to be able to work, and who are very worried about not being able to reopen in time for the festive season. Our aim is to achieve this. But that time has not yet come", Jean Castex was quick to point out at the November 12 press conference.
However, he hinted at a possible reopening on December 1, provided that the fall in the number of contaminations was confirmed, and that the pressure on intensive care units began to ease. Sanitary protocols for welcoming customers would then be reinforced.
However, Jean Castex has already announced that bars, restaurants and sports halls will remain closed, and that it will still be necessary to travel with a traffic permit.
Shopkeepers call for reopening on November 27
Bruno Le Maire, the French Minister of the Economy and Finance, gave some details of the new sanitary protocol, which could be based on "a reinforcement of the gauge and, if necessary, for some people, a system for making appointments in shops". He also announced that a new consultation process would begin immediately with "those sectors in which it is not possible to wear a mask, such as restaurants or sports halls".
Jacques Creyssel, general delegate of the Fédération du commerce et de la distribution (FCD), has called for the stores to reopen as early as November 27, to take advantage of an extra weekend of opening for Christmas shopping, and is opposed to an appointment system.
The French National Council of Shopping Centers (CNCC) reiterated its request to postpone Black Friday by one week. But despite the government's attempts to find common ground with Amazon, the e-commerce giant has not revised its position, and Black Friday is still scheduled for November 27.
Retailers' concerns remain high. While the situation is complex throughout the country, Parisian retailers are particularly hard hit. Indeed, they have been suffering for months from the lack of tourist traffic, and have had to deal with a series of crises even before the arrival of Covid, notably with the demonstrations against the labor law, the yellow vest movement or the long RATP strike in December 2019 and January 2020.
In addition, the holiday season remains highly uncertain, even if the government's objective, according to Jean Castex, is to introduce "new relief for the Christmas vacations". Further details are expected by the end of November, concerning travel options within the country.