The Strasbourg market risks closure after “not respected” health rules
Strasbourg authorities have denounced the large crowds observed at the city’s famous Christmas market and warned that health rules and physical distancing are not being respected.
Prefect of Bas-Rhin Josiane Chevalier noted: “I noticed myself that certain rules that we had put in place as part of the health protocol had not been respected.”
The prefect had previously inspected and approved a health and safety plan before the market opened on November 26. The market is expected to remain open until December 26 so far.
Ms Chevalier said many visitors failed to adhere to the rule of wearing a mask, or only consuming food and drink in the dedicated dining spaces, which were intended to be accessible only with a valid health pass.
She called on the town hall to make “a bigger communication effort” for the annual event, and said it was considering the “possibility of closing some chalets” in order to reduce staff.
Ms Chevalier even warned that if more rules were broken she could end up shutting down the event altogether.
The market was canceled last year due to the pandemic, and many similar Christmas markets in neighboring Germany have also been canceled this year.
The Strasbourg event normally attracts around two million visitors.
“Great information effort”
The fifth wave of Covid is gaining momentum in the Grand Est region, where the level of incidence (cases per 100,000 inhabitants) is now 243.
The first national alert level is 50, and the highest alert is 200 or more.
Ms Chevalier said she would write to the town’s mayor and called on the “organizers” of the event to make a “considerable effort to inform people about the wearing of masks” as well as to ban the consumption of food and drink. drinks outside designated areas.
She said: “There is a big, big information effort to be made. We cannot have a Christmas market, which has clearly defined rules, with an organizer who does not do everything to apply the rules. For example, we should add additional dining areas and better mark them.
She also called on exhibitors to do more to help, unlike some who she said let people eat and drink at their stands.
It comes as France introduced new measures to tackle the fifth wave of Covid, including the wearing of masks, requiring those who have not been vaccinated to take a test in the past 24 hours if they want their health card to remain. valid, and investigating eight suspected continental cases of the new Omicron variant.
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