" On Monday 12, I'll be heading to the pub myself, and I'll be cautiously but irrevocably raising a pint of beer to my lips. "The British will undoubtedly have listened carefully to this announcement made at the press conference of the British Prime Minister. Boris Johnson on 5 April. The British Prime Minister officially confirmed this major step forward: pubs to reopen early next week. At least on the terrace, and with customers obliged to remain seated at the table, social distancing obliges, but without their time being limited by a curfew or the need to serve a real meal along with alcohol. For the sheer pleasure of a pint of real ale.
The success of the vaccination campaign with 31 million people having received at least one doseThe positive impact on hospital admissions and the number of deaths means that the British government can now look forward to a second phase of reopenings, as planned, following the reopening of schools on 8 March.
Boris Johnson has unveiled a new roadmap, entitled "COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021", which organises the resumption of a number of activities: "COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021", "COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021" and "COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021". Thanks to the clear results of your efforts and the deployment of the vaccine, I can confirm today that from Monday 12 April, we will be moving to the second stage of our roadmap - the reopening of shops, gyms, zoos, campsites, personal care facilities such as hairdressers and, of course, pubs and outdoor establishments of all kinds. "
The UK is benefiting from a welcome breath of fresh air, even if teleworking is still widely recommended and foreign travel restricted to compelling reasons only at least until 17 May, the date set for phase 3 of the government's plan to reopen other venues such as pubs and restaurants, hotels, cinemas and museums.
This gives the tourism and events sector a glimmer of hope, especially as the government will be examining the conditions for relaunching major gatherings through its " Events Research Programme" . This pilot programme will be used to carry out scientific research into how large and small events could be allowed to reopen safely under stage 4, which begins on 21 June at the earliest.
Different approaches to social distancing, entry testing protocols and health certification will be studied, particularly during major sporting events, with 4,000 people expected to attend the FA Cup semi-final on 18 April, and even 20,000 fans for the FA Cup final at Wembley on 15 May. " We all aspire to see stadiums full of sports fans and concerts packed with music lovers, but as we continue to roll out our vaccination programme, it's time to take action, we need to find a way to do it safely" said Health Minister Matt Hancock.
The world snooker championships in Sheffield will be used to test a theatre set, a test announced as "decisive" by the authorities, in particular to study the future operation of theatres, live music venues, large weddings, but also conference centres. " These pilot tests are positive news for the hotel and restaurant industry, and could start to unlock the return of business conferences (...) by helping people to return safely to normal life from 21 June and the removal of social distancing restrictions" commented Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality.
Will such a full-scale test ever take place in France? A concert by Indochine at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris was initially planned for March, then postponed until April, and now probably until May. " We were actually approached to do this test concert. We want to do it, to help the whole profession, to show, as in Barcelona and Amsterdam, that going to a concert (with masks, editor's note) is not risky. We're ready for it, we are waiting for a signal from the authorities " explained Nicola Sirkis, the band's lead singer, to AFP on 7 April, quoted by Franceinfo.
Emmanuel Macron's announcement of a progressive reopening schedule from mid-May for culture, sport, leisure, events, cafés and restaurants has opened up some prospects for all these sectors hit by the pandemic. While remaining cautious as to whether this recovery will actually take place on the dates mentioned, UNIMEV (the French Union of Events Trade) has noted that " the mid-May horizon, made possible by the intensification of mass vaccination, means that we can finally look ahead and see the light at the end of the tunnel " .
Like the UK, the countries that are furthest advanced in their vaccination campaigns offer real prospects for a rapid recovery in tourism, at least at domestic level. The United States is another case in point, with figures showing that 40,000 new jobs were created in the hotel industry last March, Hotel occupancy recently topped 60 % or the number of passengers through airport controls, with one million travellers each day last week and a peak of 1.6 million on Thursday 1 April. Admittedly, this is still well short of the average of 2 million daily passengers expected in 2019, but these figures demonstrate the possibility of a rapid resumption of travel once conditions become favourable again thanks to vaccination.
At the end of last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its advice to travellers. Following studies into the effects of vaccination, the CDC is recommending that fully vaccinated people should be able to travel to the United States without undergoing a Covid test or being quarantined. " Fully vaccinated people can travel abroad without undergoing a COVID-19 test prior to travel, unless the international destination requires it", they added. Of course, the barrier measures - mask, distancing, hydroalcoholic gel - are still de rigueur, but what a change! "We continue to encourage all Americans to be vaccinated as soon as it's their turn, so that we can start to resume our daily lives in complete safety.said Dr Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC.
Israel, a model in this area, with more than half of its population doubly vaccinated, was able to begin the third phase of its decontamination plan at the beginning of March, with the resumption of cultural and family events and the reopening of hotels and restaurants. A return to "near" normalcy underpinned by this the famous "green passportThese are limited to 300 people and 50 % of space. Only 5% of non-vaccinated participants are authorised to attend on presentation of negative test results. As for the restaurants, they are all accessible outdoors, but only holders of the green passport can be seated indoors.
While health certification systems such as the green certificate launched by the European Union or the digital passes that are flourishing in the airline industry, are being put in place to streamline travel and border crossings, initiatives to make everyday life easier are multiplying. On 2 April, the State of New York launched its Excelsior digital passIn Denmark, since 6 April, certain small shops - hairdressers, beauty salons and driving schools - have been accessible to "coronopass" users. In Denmark, since 6 April, certain small shops - hairdressers, beauty salons and driving schools - have been accessible to "coronopass" users, available via a secure application as well as in paper format.
In the UK, this type of solution will be tested as part of the Events Research Programme, and the government is also considering the launch of a health passport : " The Government believes that certification of COVID status could have an important role to play both nationally and internationally as a temporary measure. It is right that the Government provides a means of easily demonstrating COVID status, to ensure that UK citizens and residents are not denied the opportunity to travel or attend certain venues or events. "However, the presentation of this project was opposed by more than 70 MPs from all sides of the House, who considered it either "discriminatory be of little interest once a large majority of the population has been vaccinated.
What option will the French government choose at the end of this new period of confinement to accompany the timetable for reopening announced by the French President? A mystery...
