Faced with a strong epidemic rebound, the prefecture is taking new measures during the holiday season. In addition to wearing a mask outdoors, public events are prohibited for the New Year, as is the consumption of alcohol on public roads between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
In the grip of an avalanche of Covid cases, Savoy is tightening its restrictions. At the start of the week, the incidence rate in the department was 759 per 100,000 inhabitants, with a positivity rate of 9%, and a massive influx of people into health structures (82 hospitalized patients including 21 in critical care ). In order to avoid a probable congestion, if we add the mountain accidents and the arrival of tourists to spend the end-of-year celebrations in the mountains, the prefecture preferred to take the lead by establishing new measures from the 24th. December. They will be in effect until January 4 inclusive.
Throughout the department, wearing a mask is once again compulsory outdoors for people aged 11 and over. The measure concerns in particular “Gatherings, meetings or activities of more than 10 people organized on the public highway or in places open to the public” according to the prefectural decree published on Friday. It includes markets and flea markets, but also “Queues for stadiums, theaters and cinema, sports establishments, and marquee tents, game rooms, museums, stations, shops, restaurants and bars, and cultural establishments”.
Public events prohibited for the New Year
The protocol is even more rigorous around large ski resorts: the mask is compulsory from 9 a.m. to midnight in the municipalities of Chambéry, Aix-les-Bains and Albertville, “In areas where high traffic in public spaces does not allow obedience to barrier gestures and the rules of physical distancing of one meter”. Areas which must be defined by municipal decree. The authorities also prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages on public roads, “Including Christmas markets”, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. The ban applies from 4 p.m. in stations.
A battery of measures also concerns the end-of-year celebrations, including New Year’s Eve: festive outdoor events, such as “Torchlight descents, fireworks and pyrotechnics shows on public roads and in private spaces” are prohibited on December 31 and January 1 between 6 and 6 a.m. Ditto for the organization of festive events in multipurpose rooms, prohibited until January 4.