Paris authorities on Saturday imposed the mandatory wearing of face masks outdoors in busy areas of the French capital from Monday as the number of coronavirus infections there rose.
The order applies to people aged 11 and over, the Paris prefecture said in a statement.
The zones where masks must be worn will be detailed separately, and evaluated on a regular basis, the prefecture said. They will include some densely populated areas in the capital’s lower-income suburbs.
According to BBC News, in a statement on Saturday, authorities said the rate of positive coronavirus tests was 2.4% in the greater Paris area, compared to the national average of 1.6%. They added that 400 people were testing positive for coronavirus every day in the region, with those aged between 20 and 30 particularly affected.
After tough lockdown measures slowed infection rates, many European countries are now watching new clusters flare up after easing restrictions to try to limit the economic damage and alleviate public frustration.
France has made it compulsory to wear a face mask in closed public spaces such as shops and banks since July 21, and Paris joins a growing list of cities ordering people to wear masks in busy zones outdoors, including Toulouse, Lille and Biarritz.
Source: Reuters, BBC | Cover Photo: MainstreamCanadian.ca
