PARIS (Reuters) – French Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot said on Friday she had requested an extra 35 million euros ($42 million) to help cultural venues that will not reopen as planned on Dec. 15 as France seeks to stave off a third wave of COVID-19 infections.
“We already provided 7.5 billion in aid to the sector. I told the prime minister that we would need an extra 35 million euros to help the sector go through the end of the year. I know I will get that,” Bachelot told BFM television.
France will not reopen museums, cinemas and theatres next week as planned because COVID-19 infection rates are not falling as fast as the government had hoped, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Thursday.
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Alison Williams)
