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

Wilfried Devillers, edited by Solène Delinger 8:05 p.m., January 14, 2022

REPORTING

Few faces were masked this afternoon in the alleys of Parc Monceau, in the 8th arrondissement.

Parisians can now go out without wearing a mask.

The prefectural decree establishing this measure was suspended Thursday by the administrative court.

What do local residents think? 

"It's better to breathe fresh air"

For Simon, this breath of fresh air is welcome.

“I think it is better to breathe fresh air than to cover up, where there is vegetation, nature”, he confides on Europe 1. Between two telework appointments, Alexis, he went down to enjoy the winter sun.

He was not aware of the lifting of the obligation to wear the mask.

“In fact, it was when we arrived in the park that we realized that there were a lot of people who did not have a mask”, he explains.

"We thought it was just a little lax, but obviously it's official."

Some prefer to be cautious

And if it is no longer compulsory to wear a mask outdoors, some, like Michel, prefer to remain cautious by keeping their faces covered.

"It's the habit, I don't even pay attention to it anymore," he testifies.

"But, there are so many people who do anything".

Emilie, she would like there to be an obligation according to neighborhoods and zones.

“There are places where there are really a lot of people, very busy streets like the Champs-Elysées or the Marais. These are places where wearing a mask should be compulsory,” she believes. 

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The Paris police headquarters must soon issue a decree to this effect to determine the areas where the mask will be compulsory in the capital.

And this same decision to suspend the wearing of a mask outside has just been taken for Loire-Atlantique.

This was already the case for Yvelines.