As of Monday, the date of the start of the deconfinement, the State will make "10 million masks available to transport operators so that they can distribute them to their users" in order to fight against the spread of the coronavirus, announced the Minister of Interior Christophe Castaner Friday. Speaking at a press conference, the minister said that out of this total, "4.4 million masks" were intended for Ile-de-France.
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"30 million disposable masks" given to prefects for administrations
"We have one objective: that every French person is able to obtain a mask. It could be a general public mask, washable and reusable," declared Christophe Castaner. He recalled that the wearing of the mask would be, as of Monday, "compulsory in metros, buses, trams, trains" and that the failure to wear it was punishable by a ticket of 135 euros, a fine which can be increased in the event recurrence.
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Welcoming the "mobilization of French industry" to make masks, he asked the prefects to "work primarily with local businesses". Regarding the supply of masks for the public service (other than Health and National Education), Christophe Castaner said that "30 million disposable masks" would be given to prefects to distribute them to administrations. "4 million cloth masks for state agents will be sent (Monday) to the prefectures," he added.
"5 million masks per week" for precarious people
"These deliveries are just the start," he said. In addition, "each prefect" will have at his disposal an envelope of masks intended for people in precarious situations. On this subject, the Secretary of State for the Economy, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, who participated in this press conference, specified that this envelope would be "5 million masks per week".
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Agnès Pannier-Runacher recalled that the price of the surgical mask was capped at 95 cents, and that the "recommended" price for reusable washable masks was "20 to 30 cents per washable use". The VAT rate applicable to masks was reduced to 5.5% until the end of 2021.
"100 million masks" per week for health workers and pharmacies
Christophe Castaner also made a point on the fight against trafficking in masks. "At the end of April, 438,000 masks were seized by the police and the gendarmerie in almost 363 legal proceedings," he said. "The national police have dismantled networks for the resale of medical equipment and put down scams or attempted scams for 30 million euros," he added.
Agnès Pannier-Runacher said that from Monday "200 million masks per week" will be available, ie "100 million for health workers, pharmacies" and "100 million for the general public".