The prefectures of the departments of Meurthe-et-Moselle and Hérault decided on Wednesday that wearing a mask in public space was once again compulsory in certain municipalities. The Delta variant of the coronavirus is promoting the rise in contamination, the incidence rate has skyrocketed and hospitalizations are also starting to increase. 

Wearing a mask is once again compulsory in public spaces in certain municipalities of Meurthe-et-Moselle and Hérault, the prefects of these two departments announced on Wednesday.

"Arnaud Cochet, prefect of Meurthe-et-Moselle, issued a prefectural decree making, as of July 22, 2021, the wearing of a mask compulsory for all pedestrians aged 11 or over, on public roads and in open places to the public from 9 a.m. to midnight, in municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants (...) whose incidence rate is equal to or greater than the alert threshold "set at 50 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to a press release from the prefecture.

21 municipalities of Meurthe-et-Moselle concerned

On Wednesday, the incidence rate in the department was 48.6 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants, approaching the alert threshold, but this rate is higher in the main large cities.

"At present, this measure concerns the Metropolis of Grand Nancy, the urban community of Longwy, the community of municipalities of the Pont-à-Mousson basin and the community of municipalities of the Bassin de Pompey", continues the prefect. , or a total of 21 municipalities.

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For the week of July 12 to 18, even if the incidence rates remain lower than the national figure (87.1 per 100,000), "the viral circulation is in clear increase" in the metropolises of Meurthe-et-Moselle, underlined the Regional Health Agency (ARS).

"This increase in the incidence rate in these agglomerations is observed for the third consecutive week", adds the ARS.

The level of hospitalizations "on the rise" in the Hérault

"The very active circulation of the Covid-19 virus in Hérault, in particular of the Delta variant, is again very active, resulting in a sharp increase in the incidence rate: from 65 to 227 cases detected positive per 100,000 inhabitants in 7 days, i.e. + 250% ", underlines for its part the prefecture of Hérault in a press release, noting that the 20-29 year olds were the most affected with an incidence rate which rises to 552. The level of hospitalizations" also marks a upward trend ", notes the prefecture, believing that" this deterioration of the situation justifies the strengthening of health measures in all the territories concerned in the department to curb the spread of the virus ".

The new prefect of Hérault Hugues Moutouh has therefore decided to "generalize" from Wednesday "the obligation to wear a mask outdoors in the department, with the exception of beaches, bathing areas and large natural spaces ", a measure similar to that taken on Saturday by the prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales.

In four less affected communities in Hérault, it is "optional but strongly recommended".

Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Wednesday that France had entered "into the fourth wave" of the Covid epidemic, launching on TF1 "a collective challenge" to the population so that "we reach eight million vaccines" administered in the next two weeks.