Paris Fashion Week's haute couture shows to go digital amid COVID-19 concerns

Due to growing coronavirus concerns, french fashion’s regulatory body has anunced that this month’s Paris men’s and haute couture shows will be held on a digital platform. After instructions by police, Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode told luxury houses that y will t be allowed to invite guests this season. According to AP reports, federation in its statement said y are confirming that re will be public garings. 

Virtual Fashion Week 

 "Houses can still organise ‘real’ runway shows with models broadcast live, provided that ir events take place behind closed doors”, statement added. Milan Fashion Week will also be conducted without any guests, journalists, or photographers. decision was made after various attempts of Italian fashion council to maintain a minimum level of live shows. 

Paris is t under a lockdown, however, re are strict restrictions in place to monitor movement of people. restrictions also include a 6 pm or 8 pm curfew. Also, failure to follow restrictions can lead to a prison sentence for a period of six months. Even though lockdown in France ended on December 15, public places like restaurants, bars, cinemas, aters, and museums continue to remain shut. 

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COVID-19 variant in France 

Meanwhile, France recently detected at least two clusters of mutated UK Covid variant in country. French Health Minister Olivier Véran anunced. France’s border with UK would remain shut "until furr tice" as authorities investigate into risk clusters of mutant coronavirus and speed up mass vaccination programme, he added.

government aims to vaccinate at least one million French people by end of January, Véran told state broadcasters. Health experts sounded an alarm over spread of virus variant, which scientists found more contagious than original SARS-CoV-2 strain.  

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UK variant cluster was detected across Hauts-de-Seine, near Paris, and in Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany, according to French broadcaster Connexion. health authorities initiated rigorous contact tracing as 19 cases of COVID-19 infections of UK variant were confirmed in France.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex is also reported to have told BFM TV that French government was ramping up efforts to expand and fast-track vaccinations. He also warned of a worsening of COVID-19 crisis in coming weeks due to surge in UK variant cases. 

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(Im Credits: AP)