Mask or not in closed public places: the executive puzzle

The images of a concert which took place in Nice on Saturday, without distancing, or those of spectators gathered at Puy-du-Fou, without respecting barrier gestures aroused an outcry. For several days, the regrouping of several thousand people in the village of Saint-Parize-le-Châtel, in Nièvre, for a clandestine rave-party, has also caused great concern.

Result: the executive is under pressure and summoned to react. The calls to make the mask compulsory in closed public places to fight against the Covid-19 are constantly increasing. 

Victims of the coronavirus and health professionals announced in particular, Monday, July 13, to urgently seize the Council of State on this subject. "After a superhuman effort from the health system, it is urgent to take all possible measures to prevent the second wave," wrote lawyer Fabrice Di Vizio in a statement. "And if the government does not wish to take this decision, if it does not retain anything from the crisis that we have just experienced, we call today on the Council of State to force it there," he added.

This lawyer represents the Association Victims Coronavirus France and the Collective of Health Professionals C19, three members of which filed a complaint, at the end of March, before the Court of Justice of the Republic against the former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe and the former Minister. de la Santé, Agnès Buzyn.

For Me Di Vizio, the mask must be mandatory in all enclosed public places, such as shops or restaurants. "The state must face up to its responsibilities. The judge will have to compel it to take action," he told AFP.

A call from doctors

This referral to the highest administrative court comes a few days after the publication of a column by several doctors in Le Parisien calling for "the wearing of a mandatory mask in all enclosed public places". Entitled "Masked But Free", it warns against "a possible massive restart of transmissions".

"It would be truly unfortunate not to use these effective and accessible means [to curb the epidemic] which are: wearing a compulsory mask in all enclosed public places, physical distancing as much as possible and washing your hands", plead these doctors including Professor Antoine Pelissolo and Dr Jimmy Mohamed. Even if they recognize that the mask "remains uncomfortable", they emphasize that contrary to the beginning of the year, we know that its use is an important condition to limit the diffusion of the virus "provided that everyone wears it".

Asked about this during his trip to Guyana, the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, said Sunday that "the question of developing the wearing of masks is under study", especially for enclosed spaces, in order to fight against coronavirus epidemic. "In the existing regulations, in a certain number of these closed places [such as public transport], the wearing of a mask is compulsory," said the Prime Minister.

The Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, also made a point in a tweet: "Barrier gestures are not an option. Do not hesitate to wear a mask in any situation, especially if you are not sure to be able to keep a meter away from those around you. It is by the civic spirit of each one that we will preserve the health of all! # COVID-19. "

Barrier gestures are not an option. Do not hesitate to wear a mask in any situation, especially if you are not sure you can keep 1 meter away from those around you. It is through the civic spirit of each that we will preserve the health of all! #COVID ー 19

In a tweet published on Sunday, President Emmanuel Macron used the same formula, also insisting that barrier gestures "are not an option". The head of state should not fail to be questioned about the wearing of the mask during the interview he will give to journalists on the occasion of July 14.

Even a few months ago, at the start of the pandemic, members of the government said that wearing a mask was useless. "The French will not be able to buy masks in pharmacies, because it is not necessary if you are not sick," had even said Sibeth Ndiaye, then government spokesman.

Mayors and merchants supportive

As France Bleu explains, many city officials say that they are in any case in favor of the obligation to wear a mask in private places receiving the public. It is "a measure of common sense", according to Philippe Laurent, secretary general of the Association of Mayors of France, UDI mayor of Sceaux in the Hauts-de-Seine. The elected official had taken in April a decree imposing the wearing of the mask on his commune, which had been relocated by the Council of State. "I haven't changed my attitude or my conviction," explains Philippe Laurent, quoted by France Bleu.

Traders also support this measure. Francis Palombi, the president of the Confederation of the traders of France, explained on France Info to have sent "an SMS to the president of the Republic" to ask him to impose the mask in the closed places. "The state must absolutely harden its positions, and I hope that Prime Minister Castex will do it," he added.

In other countries, this issue is also the subject of heated debate. In Spain, several regions, including Catalonia and the Balearics, have decided to reinforce the compulsory nature of the mask which must be worn there at any time under penalty of a fine. In Quebec, the Canadian province most affected by coronavirus, the authorities will make it compulsory to wear a mask in public places closed from Saturday, according to local media, while in the United States, the governor of Texas has rendered mandatory wearing a mask on July 3.

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