Pinned by Mediapart for a lunch at the Meurice hotel in Paris (1st arrondissement) on Wednesday, Senator (LR) Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam pleaded “his right”. If bars and restaurants are closed, including in hotels, nothing prevents those who can afford to have lunch for two in a private space, in this case a palace lounge, she argued.
???? Senator Les Républicains Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam had lunch at noon on Wednesday at Meurice, one of the most famous Parisian palaces. The elected representative speaks of a “professional meeting” and indicates that she did not know that it was prohibited.
Our investigation: https://t.co/EavSuzcE81 pic.twitter.com/ORfDVhRCkV– Mediapart (@Mediapart) April 16, 2021
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However, the case raises questions, even the anger of those who try to limit their collective meals to those at home. Especially since it arises in the midst of the controversy over illegal dinners and after the revelation, on our site and in our newspaper, of the existence of catering services in several Parisian coworking spaces that play with the rules without breaking the law. .
The health issue is high, while the Covid-19 epidemic remains at a worrying level. As the Institut Pasteur reminds us, meals, both in private and professional settings, are indeed “the most frequently reported circumstances at the origin of transmissions” of the coronavirus.
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With the arrival of fine weather, these meetings outside the office may also no longer be an exception: parks and gardens fill up at lunchtime, and in the private sphere, the question of barbecues, aperitifs and picnics. niques arises. So what does the law say about good food to be shared, between colleagues or with relatives? We take stock.
At work, it is better to have lunch alone
Regarding professional lunches outside like that of the senator, it is de facto impossible to hold an appointment in a restaurant, all supposed to be closed. On the other hand, “nothing prohibits going to eat in the hotel room of a professional contact, whether it is a senator or a commercial”, affirms Eric Rocheblave, lawyer specializing in labor law.
“When a hotel or restaurant sells take-out, you can take it anywhere you want,” he continues. We see a lot of hotels trying to get around the situation by offering their customers a meal in their room. I don’t think there is a legal framework for this, in any case it is not legally prohibited. “
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Within company restaurants, the government has strengthened the health protocol. The return of take-out packed lunches is recommended, and employees are asked to consume them at their workstation.
For those who wish to eat in the canteen, you have to be alone at the table, keeping 8 m² of empty space around you and an empty place in front of you. A constraint which theoretically makes it possible to avoid contamination, failing to promote the conviviality of shared meals.
Green light for outdoor picnics
The parks and gardens, as well as the beaches, lakes and bodies of water, remain open. On the other hand, it is not possible to regroup there beyond six people, children included. You can leave your home without a limited period of time, within a radius of 10 km around your home, to walk, get some fresh air and play sports or an outdoor activity.
In the event of an inspection, it is sufficient to present proof of address. However, this should not give rise to groups of more than six people. “The favorable weather of recent times increases the risk of gatherings, often festive and accompanied by moments of conviviality (meals, drinks with friends, picnics, etc.) which do not allow the wearing of the mask continuously, worries the Ministry of Health, which we contacted. Barrier and distancing measures should continue to be strictly applied during these moments spent outdoors. Clearly, if there is a picnic, it is advisable to keep a few meters of distance between the participants.
Of course, the prefects can close access to certain places suitable for festive gatherings, when their organizational conditions create a real health risk. But to encourage the French to take the air is part of the new strategy, assumed, of the government. “If I had to improvise a slogan, it would be ventilate to breathe, distance yourself to protect yourself », Confided Olivier Véran in our columns.
If the group exceeds six people, it is however liable to a fine: for individuals, the amount of the fine is € 135.
At home, meals with friends are prohibited … in theory
Even in small groups, it is not recommended! Inviting friends or family to your home is prohibited during the confinement. “It is not possible to receive guests at home,” says the government. And “the people going to this type of invitation will not be able to justify their displacement by one of the authorized reasons of displacement. They are therefore liable to a fine of 135 euros for a first offense and up to 3,750 euros in the event of repeated non-compliance with the rules in force ”. However, you can sleep with a family member during curfew.
“It’s communication! From a legal point of view, you can receive people at home, provided that they live within 10 km. What is controlled, it is the movements ”, qualifies however the lawyer Eric Rocheblave.
Aware that this type of event is difficult to control, the Ministry of Health is pragmatic: “Private gatherings, within one’s home, represent an increased risk of contamination: thus, it is recommended to respect the same rules, by ensuring continuous ventilation of the premises, as far as possible. “
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