Paris Fashion Week is set to go ahead without the live audiences. The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode told luxury houses that they will not be allowed to invite guests this season. According to AP reports, the federation in its statement said they are confirming that there will be no public gatherings due to ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“Houses can still organise ‘real’ runway shows with models broadcast live, provided that their events take place behind closed doors”, the statement added. Milan Fashion Week will also be conducted without any guests, journalists, or photographers. The decision was made after various attempts of the Italian fashion council to maintain a minimum level of live shows.
Paris is not under a lockdown but there are strict restrictions in place to monitor the movement of people. The restrictions also include a 6 pm or 8 pm curfew. If the rules are failed to follow, then it can lead to a prison sentence for a period of six months. Even though the lockdown in France ended on December 15, public places like restaurants, bars, cinemas, theatres, and museums continue to remain to stay closed until further notice.
Coming to the coronavirus update in France, the country recently detected at least two clusters of the mutated UK Covid variant, the French Health Minister Olivier Véran announced. The nation’s border with the UK has remained shut “until further notice” as authorities investigate into the risk clusters of the mutant coronavirus and plan to fasten up the mass vaccination programme.
The government aims to vaccinate at least one million French citizens by the end of January, Véran told state broadcasters. The UK variant cluster was detected across Hauts-de-Seine, near Paris, and in Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany, according to French broadcaster Connexion. The health authorities started with rigorous contact tracing as 19 cases of COVID-19 infections of the UK variant were confirmed in France.