Paris (AFP)

The government has decided: failure to wear a mask from Monday in all enclosed public places may be worth a fine of 135 euros.

If the principle and the date of this obligation were known, faced with signals of a slight resurgence of the coronavirus epidemic, there was uncertainty as to the sanction in the event of an infraction.

The Directorate General of Health confirmed on Sunday: "Failure to comply with this measure could be liable, as is the case in other places where wearing a mask is compulsory, in particular transport, 4th class ", ie a fixed fine of 135 euros.

While the authorities considered wearing a mask for people not sick four months ago, it is now imposed on everyone in "sales outlets, shopping centers, administrations, banks and markets covered ", detailed the DGS in a text sent to AFP.

These establishments are added to the list of places where the wearing of a mask was already planned to combat Covid-19.

Meeting and performance halls, cinemas, restaurants, hotels, games rooms, educational establishments, holiday centers, libraries, places of worship, indoor sports establishments, museums, stations and airports were indeed already concerned "sometimes with specific rules ", reminds the DGS.

Emmanuel Macron had announced on July 14 that the obligation to wear a mask would come into force on August 1, but the date was quickly brought forward, faced with criticism from doctors who warn of "weak signals" of resumption of the epidemic and loosening of barrier measures.

Wearing a mask is a "lesser harm" to avoid reconfiguration, warned Tuesday Philippe Juvin, head of emergency at the Pompidou hospital in Paris. "There is a real subject on the loosening of barrier gestures, it is well shown by all opinion polls, you just have to go to the street to see," he stressed.

- "Uncertainties" on air transmission -

At the national level, the effective reproduction rate of the virus (or "effective R", based on positive virological tests) has dropped slightly above 1 since the first week of July, and currently stands at around 1.20, according to Public Health France.

This means that each Covid-19 patient infects an average of 1.2 other people, which tends to lead to an increase in the circulation of the virus.

According to the Ministry of Health, the health situation in France, except Mayotte and Guyana which are still undergoing the first wave, "shows signals of a slight deterioration, but still uncertain", after several weeks of decline and then stabilization of the 'epidemic.

"The vigilance of all is more than ever necessary to avoid an epidemic rebound".

Another factor that justifies this decision: the "uncertainties" about the transmission of the virus in the air.

This subject "was the subject of a letter to WHO on July 6 signed by 239 scientists from 32 countries, who notably commented on the frequency of contaminations and clusters in an enclosed environment, particularly in air circulation, and even in the absence of direct projection ", indicates the DGS.

- Government flip-flop -

The decision, however, constitutes a flip-flop from the government which, based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), hammered at the start of the epidemic that masks were only necessary for carers and sick.

"It is really a rare commodity, a precious resource for caregivers, and completely useless for anyone on the street," even declared the Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon on March 18, the day after the confinement, while the country faced a cruel shortage of masks.

Over the weeks and months, the discourse has changed.

"All of the recommendations were issued in accordance with the state of scientific knowledge, as they progressed. The WHO recommended the wearing of a general public mask only at the beginning of June", is justified the DGS.

Very criticized for the absence of a strategic stock at the start of the epidemic, the government wants to reach the target of around 60 million masks by October, against 3.5 million before the crisis.

© 2020 AFP