France may ban standing concerts until March

France is reportedly gearing up to ban standing concerts until March 31st, due to a spike in Covid-19 cases. The government is preparing to outlaw all “horizontal concerts” – as opposed to seated shows – where concertgoers’ seats are staggered vertically, until the spring, when it is hoped a vaccine for the virus might be available.

The country reported another record number of Covid-19 cases over the weekend, with 32, 000 being registered inside 24 hours.

The decision, if adhered to, would be a devastating blow to the Festival industry, as most festivals would be halfway through their 2021 preparation plans by the time the ban is set to be lifted (April 1). According to France Festivals, around 2, 500 outdoor events were cancelled this past summer due to Covid-19.

In September, the French government announced that concerts could continue to be held without social distancing as long as there were fewer than 5, 000 people in attendance, but larger events would be banned until November. The country also introduced an enforced curfew this weekend from 21.00 to 6.00 every evening in major cities, including Lyon, Marseille, Paris, Toulouse and Lille.

The government announced a €2 billion recovery fund, with €220 million fund dedicated to supporting the live events sector.

This news comes as many countries in the EU, including Ireland, tighten Covid-19 restrictions in an effort to diminish the severity of the virus' second wave.