French cities to make face masks compulsory outdoors

TOULOUSE yesterday became the first major city in France to make face masks compulsory outdoors, as the country grapples with rising infection rates and fears of a second wave.

Local authorities in France’s fourthlargest city say they are acting preemptively before the summer holidays draw to a close, amid fears mass movements in and out of town will lead to a spike in Covid-19 infections.

Face masks are already compulsory on public transport in France and indoors in public places.

However, with the number of daily infections surpassing 3,000 twice in the past week, local authorities in many areas, including Paris, have tightened rules to make masks obligatory in zones such as busy streets and outdoor food markets.

France’s third most populated city, Lyon, said yesterday that masks would become compulsory in its busiest sectors from Saturday.

Toulouse’s new blanket outdoor rule will come into force tomorrow and apply from 7am to 3am the next day for all people aged 12 and over, including those on bikes and kick-scooters. Only closed cars will be exempt. The rules will remain in force for at least a month.

The crackdown came after attempts to impose targeted measures in some areas, in particular along the banks of the Garonne river, proved unsuccessful.

The infection rate in the region has tripled in three weeks, going from 11 to 35 positive cases per 100,000 people. In Toulouse, it has surpassed the alert level of 50 to reach 64.2 last week. There are currently 14 active clusters in the region.

France has seen a rise in infection rates across the country in recent weeks, along with the numbers of people admitted to hospital and intensive care, even if the government insists there is no second wave. As a result, Britain has imposed quarantine measures on anyone coming from France.  Face masks are not set to become compulsory in offices, Matt Hancock said yesterday, amid plans for coverings to be mandatory in France.

On Tuesday, Elisabeth Borne, France’s labour minister, said masks would be required in all shared indoor workspaces starting next month.