Coronavirus in France: the obligation to wear a mask extends in large cities

Masked crowd in rue Sainte-Catherine, the main shopping street in Bordeaux. Wearing a mask will be compulsory from Monday August 31 in the city. MEHDI FEDOUACH / AFP

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The wearing of compulsory masks is gradually becoming widespread in large cities in France, in an attempt to halt the progression of Covid-19. This is a "reasonable constraint", according to the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron.

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This Friday, August 28, the wearing of the compulsory mask came into force throughout Paris and its inner suburbs, where the virus is actively circulating. Until now, it was only required in certain high-traffic neighborhoods or streets.

We must respect it.

Report: what do Parisians think of the compulsory wearing of a mask?

After the capital, the mask will become mandatory in the large eastern city of Strasbourg, the authorities have announced. The measure, which concerns those over 11, will come into force on Saturday morning and "  until September 30 at least  " in the city and in all the municipalities of the department of more than 10,000 inhabitants, announced the prefecture of Bas -Rhine.

In Bordeaux, in the South-West, wearing a mask will be compulsory from Monday in most of the city center, announced the environmental mayor Pierre Hurmic. This measure has already been in force since mid-August in Marseille, in the south-east of France, where bars and restaurants must also close at 11 p.m.

Like you, I don't like to wear a mask  "

The progressive generalization of the compulsory mask should make it possible to cope with an epidemic which is regaining ground in France, while 6,000 new cases have been recorded in 24 hours.

Visiting this Friday morning in a pharmaceutical laboratory in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, near Paris, Emmanuel Macron affirmed the need to wear a mask to fight the pandemic. 

“  Like you, I don't like to wear a mask and you have to learn to live it, it's embarrassing, it's painful. Barrier gestures, we who are more of a Latin people, are not natural in our habits. But I think that it is a reasonable constraint that we must accept for a while because it allows to slow down the circulation of this virus and precisely it allows the economic activity to start again in good conditions  ”, estimates the head of the state.

On the economic front, INSEE announces a fall in GDP in the second quarter of 13.8%, due to containment and consumption which is struggling to get off on a good footing, despite the government's messages of optimism.

“  The worst thing would be to be relaxed today to let the virus circulate faster. This would inevitably lead to reconfigurations and therefore business stoppages. Our country needs, precisely to finance its social model, to better protect, to continue to produce and to have an economic life,  ”added Emmanuel Macron.

In Paris as in Strasbourg, cyclists and joggers are exempt from wearing a mask. Failure to comply with this measure is punishable by a fine of 135 euros.

To read also : Covid-19 in France: "the virus is progressing", notes Castex, 21 departments in the red zone

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