Timeline for lifting Covid restrictions in France in May, June

On Thursday, President Macron detailed a four-step plan to reopen the country and revive the French economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, he has stated that the lifting of restrictions goes hand in hand with keeping the number of infections in check. 

France has recorded a total of 104, 253 deaths from Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, 321 of those in the past 24 hours as of Thursday. 

11,439 people were admitted to hospital in the past seven days; 1,786 of those to intensive care, according to the latest public health statistics.

Here are the key dates, stage by stage:

Stage 1: 3 May 2021

• Curfew remains in place from 7pm to 6am
• Secondary schools reopen (with some restrictions)
• Lifting of 10 km travel ban between regions
• Non-essential shops remain closed
• Working from home remains in place
• End of daytime permission certificate when leaving household

Stage 2: 19 May

• Curfew pushed from 7pm to 9pm
• Reopening of all commercial activities*
• Reopening of museums, monuments, cinemas, theatres and seated venues**
• Reopening of open-air and indoor sporting activities**
• Swimming pools - access possible for children only
• Working from home remains in place
• Reopening of bar and restaurant outdoor terraces (6 people max per table)
• Gatherings of more than 10 people prohibited
• Reopening of indoor and outdoor sporting venues with spectators**

Stage 3: 9 June

• Curfew pushed from 9pm to 11pm
• Reopening of all cafés and restaurants (6 people max per table)
• Sports and cultural venues open to up to 5,000 people***
• Lifting of travel restrictions for foreign visitors coming into France***
• Limited return to work place
• Reopening of international fairs, exhibitions and salons (up to 5,000 people max)
• Reopening of gyms, sports halls, to include open-air contact sports and interior non-contact sports
• Overseas tourists allowed to visit France***

Stage 4: 30 June

• End of curfew
• Sanitary measures and social distancing to be maintained
• Events of up to 1,000 people – indoor and outdoor – possible***
• End of limited restrictions, according to local health situation and public services
• Limits to the capacity of events on ad-hoc basis, depending on health situation
• Nightclubs remain closed

* Reopening on condition of respecting sanitary restrictions and protocols that are adapted to each place and activity

**800 indoors, 1,000 outdoors

***With a health pass