Coronavirus: in Paris, the compulsory mask in certain areas is debated

Audio 01:14

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

Mask obligatory in certain places of Paris and Ile-de-France from this Monday morning 8am. The capital follows in the footsteps of 1,500 French cities such as Nice, Toulouse or Lille. Areas “with high frequentation of people” have been targeted for this provision. The quays of the Seine, the Butte Montmartre, certain markets.

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“  Oh my God! Really !  This is Halem's reaction when she learns that the new measure applies in the streets of her work. “  It's super hot! In addition, with the masks, it will be horrible, even in the streets! And a mask at work more in the street where I work ... it will be complicated! In closed, confined places, I can understand, but in the street ... I don't know  , ”she confides at the microphone of Alexis Bédu , reporter for the France service of RFI.

After Brussels and Madrid, the wearing of a mask becomes compulsory from this Monday in certain very busy districts of Paris , where the strict application of this measure to fight against the coronavirus could come up against the current scorching heat wave.

Banks of the Seine, heights of Montmartre or rue Mouffetard, it will no longer be possible to stroll with your face uncovered in certain tourist areas and main shopping streets of the French capital, and in certain cities of Île-de-France.

"  I prefer to wear it rather than pay the fine of 135 euros  "

Sylvia does her shopping every day on this rather narrow shopping street. She is divided on this obligation. “  I am for wearing a mask. Because I'm a certain age, I like to protect myself and others. But I put it on when I see there is a crowd. But when there is no crowd and I am miles from each other, no! But I'll do it rather than pay 135 euros, eh, because I'm not rolling on gold.  "

135 euros fine for not wearing the mask, this is not likely to happen to Fabrice who already wears it almost permanently. "  Me, I wear it as soon as I can in fact. Indoors, all the time and outdoors, I am a little "covid-sensitive", I stress a bit so I prefer to protect myself and others. In any case, it protects postilions and it is rather very effective.  "

Delicate task

Scheduled for a renewable period of one month, this measure should allow health authorities to stop a rebound of the virus which raises fears of a second wave of the epidemic with potentially devastating effects for the French economy.

The task promises to be delicate, however, given the scenes observed over the past 48 hours in several European countries, stunned by temperatures exceeding 35 ° C, where many summer visitors have ignored the recommended health measures.

► To read also: France: against a background of conspiracy theories, the "anti-mask" movement is spreading

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• Coronavirus
• France
• Paris

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