Europe 1 with AFP 8:56 p.m., January 13, 2022
The administrative court of Paris on Thursday suspended the prefectural decree which makes it compulsory to wear a mask outdoors in Paris since December 31.
A decision which comes the day after that of the administrative court of Versailles, which had suspended a similar decree, a first on national territory.
The administrative court of Paris on Thursday suspended the prefectural decree which makes it compulsory to wear a mask outdoors in Paris since December 31, AFP learned from the court. This decision comes the day after that of the Administrative Court of Versailles, which had suspended a similar decree, a first on national territory, considering that the measure carried "an excessive, disproportionate and inappropriate attack (...) on the freedom individual".
Seized by individuals, the judge in chambers considered that this "obligation could only be imposed on condition that the local epidemiological situation justifies it and that the wearing of the mask is limited to places and times of heavy traffic", according to the communicated.
He thus considered that the measure carried "an excessive, disproportionate and inappropriate attack (...) on individual freedom".
Obligation area boundaries
If the risk of contamination is "lower in the open air", the magistrate however agreed that it was not "excluded (...) when there is a high concentration of people" and that the prefect could "delimit areas where masks must be worn outdoors" in the event of high density.
Contacted by AFP, the prefecture of Yvelines indicated "to take note of the decision of the administrative court of Versailles" and "to study it to adapt the obligation to wear a mask outdoors", in particular in terms of zones and schedule.
A new decree should therefore be drafted soon.