Paris (AFP)

The compulsory wearing of the mask extends in the big cities, Strasbourg and Bordeaux soon joining Paris and Marseille, a "reasonable constraint" in the face of the upsurge of Covid-19 according to President Macron.

The measure should help curb the epidemic which has killed more than 30,000 people and is regaining ground in the country with 6,111 new cases recorded in 24 hours Thursday, a record of contamination since May.

The mask will be compulsory for those over 11 from Saturday and "until at least September 30" in Strasbourg and in all the municipalities of the department with more than 10,000 inhabitants, the Bas-Rhin prefecture announced on Friday.

Friday morning, the same measure came into force throughout Paris and the three departments of the inner suburbs (Seine-Saint-Denis, Hauts-de-Seine, Val-de-Marne). Hitherto, wearing a mask was only required in certain busy neighborhoods or streets.

As in Strasbourg, only cyclists and joggers will benefit from an exemption.

The vast majority of Parisians crossed in the streets on Friday respected the measure, even if some doubted its usefulness.

"In transport I understand, but I do not think that the virus walks in the air like that", thus estimated Marietha Adhot, a forty-something.

Another Parisian, Sylvie Soufir, considered on the contrary that the government "should have done it a long time ago".

"We are going to wear it, we have no choice! But it is more out of fear for the wallet than illness", admitted Kader Odh, a forty-something, deeming the decision "exaggerated".

Non-compliance with wearing a mask is punishable by a fine of 135 euros.

- Start of the Tour -

Paris is considered a risk zone by several countries: Belgium has just added it to its list of European destinations which are no longer authorized, unless it is screened on return. Denmark, for its part, has advised against "unnecessary" travel to France.

In Bordeaux, wearing a mask will be compulsory from Monday in most of the city center, announced the environmental mayor Pierre Hurmic.

This measure was extended at the end of August to the entire city of Marseille, where bars and restaurants must also close at 11 p.m.

In Hérault, the prefecture announced Friday that it was now forbidden to dance in bars and "establishments open to the public", as well as in public places, "covered or not".

Wearing a mask is "a reasonable constraint that we must accept for a time," President Emmanuel Macron stressed on Friday, visiting a pharmaceutical laboratory in the Paris suburbs.

"It's embarrassing, it's painful", but "the worst thing would be to relax today to let the virus circulate more quickly, which would inevitably lead us to re-containments and therefore shutdowns. 'activity,' he said.

Tuesday, during the start of the school year, wearing a mask will be compulsory for teachers, middle and high school students, including at recess, Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer said Thursday.

A total of 21 departments are placed in the "red zone" (where the virus is actively circulating) including the Alpes-Maritimes from where the Tour de France cyclist will start on Saturday, with a first stage "almost behind closed doors".

France recorded a historic drop in its gross domestic product (GDP) of 13.8% in the second quarter of 2020, Insee confirmed on Friday, due to the confinement which led the French to save heavily to the detriment of consumption .

The pandemic has killed at least 832,336 people around the world since the virus first appeared at the end of December, according to an AFP report on Friday.

burs-emd / jt / nm

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