At 8 o'clock, the mask was compulsory in Paris, on foot or by bicycle. At 8:50 am, it was no longer used for joggers and cyclists. The authorities wanted to keep it simple by putting on the mask for everyone, they rather messed up this Friday morning. Even the press services of the Paris City Hall or the Prefecture had difficulty following the instructions. However at the start, Thursday afternoon, everything was very clear: the compulsory mask for everyone, including cyclists ...
Paris city hall requests an exemption
But on Friday morning, listening to Emmanuel Grégoire, on Europe 1, the discomfort was palpable. "This decision is absurd. Decisions must be based on a minimum of scientific argumentation, and on an element of understanding and consistency. And no, it is not consistent to impose the mask on a cyclist on the move! None scientific study does not attest to a risk in this matter. "
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Behind the scenes the Paris City Hall maneuvered to "adjust the rule", we are told, resulting in a new press release from the Paris Prefecture this morning at 8:42 am: if you use your bike to go to work, you are not forced to wear the mask. Joggers are also exempt.
"When we multiply the exceptions, we no longer understand the rule"
In the streets of the capital, these new instructions seem vague even if most Parisians had taken the reflex to wear the mask given the complexity of the map between the masked and unmasked areas. But Ali wonders: can he uncover his face to smoke a cigarette? "I don't know how to do otherwise. Do we have to stop in a specific place? Are we going to be fined because we take it away momentarily? Can we take a sandwich while walking? We don't understand much! "
"We try to be as responsible as possible but smoke a cigarette when there is no one around, I don't see where the offense is", adds Ali before pointing out: "The problem, when you multiply the exceptions, it is is that we no longer understand the rule. And that's been the case from the start. "
"I'm going to put it on, it's easier"
François was quite skeptical about the usefulness of measuring outdoors. "I don't think it's particularly useful when there aren't too many people ... When there are markets, gatherings with a lot of people yes, but obviously it's very complicated to legislate ... ", he admits. "I'll put it on and I think it's ultimately a simpler decision!"
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Still, it is difficult to understand why bikers should wear a mask when cyclists are exempt. But for now, the instructions are as follows: mask for everyone, except for bicycles and joggers, and except for smoking or eating. Because the prefecture has indicated that a tolerance would be applied in these cases. The fine for non-compliance with wearing a mask does not change: 135 euros.