Paris (AFP)
Emmanuel Macron wants the mask to be "compulsory in all enclosed public places" from August 1, he said on Tuesday, noting that there are "signs" that the epidemic "is starting again." ".
"We do it in transport, it works very well, but it's a bit erratic in closed public places (...) it means that things have to get organized", underlined during an interview on TF1 and France 2 Mr. Macron, who "recommended to all our fellow citizens to wear the mask as much as possible when they are outside and, a fortiori, when they are in a closed place".
"We came out of the first peak (...) the whole country has mobilized and we have results, since we have managed to stem the virus and return to an almost normal life," said the head of the State.
But "today we have concerns", he stressed, warning that "there are indications (that) it is re-accelerating, we have signs that it is starting again a little", for example the rate of contamination per recently infected person rose slightly above 1 (an infected person contaminates more than another person, so the epidemic increases).
Recalling that "the best prevention is barrier gestures", Mr. Macron said "wishes (r) that in the coming weeks we make mandatory the mask in all closed public places (...) for example from 1st of August".
But "we will be ready" in the event of a possible second wave, assured the head of state. "We have both stocks and supplies that are secure and we have the organization as close to the ground as possible, which would make it possible to face an upsurge, if it were there."
On the other hand, possible new confinements would be made locally, he assured, with the instruction "to isolate as locally as possible and therefore as quickly as possible".
© 2020 AFP