TRANSPORT AND MASK. Drop the masks in the metros, buses, trams, trains, planes and even taxis! From Monday May 16, 2022, wearing a mask will no longer be compulsory in SNCF and RATP public transport due to the improvement in the Covid-19 health situation.
[Mis à jour le 11 mai 2022 à 16h16] This Wednesday, May 11, 2022, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced after the Council of Ministers that the end of wearing a mask in transport would take place from May 16. “The epidemic situation is improving, the pandemic is not over, but the number of new diagnoses on a daily basis is decreasing and we consider that it is no longer appropriate to maintain this obligation to wear a mask in public transport, at from Monday, May 16”, he justified himself, following a recommendation from the ECDC, the European organization for the fight against communicable diseases.
The Minister of Health however specified that it remained recommended, in particular for vulnerable or symptomatic people, and obviously positive for Covid-19. In health establishments (hospitals, nursing homes or medico-social establishments), the wearing of a mask remains in force “until at least this summer”, just like the sanitary pass.
From May 16, 2022, the obligation to wear a mask is lifted for all audiences and on all public transport in France. “Are concerned in particular the metro, the bus, the train, the plane and the taxis”, specified the cabinet of the ministry to AFP. The answer in detail by type of transport:
- TGV/TER/Intercités : the mask is no longer compulsory on all SNCF trains from May 16.
- Airplane : from May 16, the mask is no longer mandatory on the plane. The director of EASA specifies in a statement that “passengers must, however, behave responsibly and respect the choices of others around them. And a passenger who coughs and sneezes should strongly consider wearing a mask, to reassure people seated nearby”, specifies Patrick Ky, the director of EASA. But beware, each country still applies different measures regarding Covid-19. In “flights to or from a destination where wearing a mask is still required on public transport”, the mask will also be required on the plane.
- Metro : from May 16, the mask is no longer required in the metro of all cities in France.
- RER/Transilien : The mask is no longer compulsory in the RER and Transilien managed by the SNCF and the RATP from May 16.
- Buses/Trams : from May 16, the mask is lifted in buses and trams in all cities of France.
Until May 16, 2022, wearing a mask remains compulsory on all SNCF trains and on all buses, metros, trams and RER managed by RATP, from the age of 6. As a reminder, failure to wear a mask is punishable by a fine of 135 euros.