COVID MASK. Olivier Véran announced the end of wearing a mask in businesses, schools and public transport on one condition: the number of critical care patients must be less than 1,500. The “mid-March” period was indicated by the Minister of Health referring to “a collapse of the Omicron wave”.
[Mis à jour le 21 février 2022 à 14h35] Olivier Véran said he was optimistic about the end of the mandatory mask and the health restriction measures, Sunday February 20. “What we are seeing today and for several weeks is a collapse of the Omicron wave, which reduces its pace by two every week and that’s good,” he said on RTL. “We believe that by mid-March, hospital and epidemic conditions will allow us to remove the mask inside and remove all or part of the vaccination pass,” he said.
The Minister of Health and Solidarity, Olivier Véran, had indicated that the mask will be abandoned in businesses, schools and public transport when a maximum of 1,500 patients in critical care are observed on February 17. An announcement that clarifies the minister’s remarks at the microphone of France Info, who had, at the start, only mentioned the deadline of “mid-March” and the condition that the French hospital had returned to a “normal operating state”. This precision was made while Oliver Véran met the staff of the Larchet hospital, in Nice, indicates France Blue Nice. If the Minister of Health had assured, on February 16, that the number of Covid-19 contaminations is “three times lower than two weeks ago”, it should be noted that to date, 2 923 Covid patients – almost double the threshold announced by Olivier Véran – are still in critical care.
In addition, the Minister of Health therefore hopes that this threshold will be reached around mid-March. A new date in the calendar for the gradual lifting of health restriction measures which completes that of February 28, when the mask will no longer be required to carry out a certain number of activities, subject to the presentation of the vaccination pass. Thus, at the end of February, you will be able to go without a mask (but with your pass) to bars, restaurants or even places of culture. On this same date, elementary school students and teaching staff will be able to remove the mask outside.
In a press release dated February 11, 2022, the Ministry of Health indicated that “in other closed places, subject to the vaccination pass, wearing a mask will no longer be compulsory”, from February 28. These are:
- theaters
- theme parks
- concert halls
- festivals
- sports halls
- sports speakers
- game rooms
- libraries
- documentation centers
- cinemas
- bars
- restaurants
- fairs
- trade shows
- professional seminars if they take place outside the company and bring together more than 50 people;
- ski lifts in ski resorts
- access to tourist accommodation such as campsites or holiday clubs with a single check at the start of the stay.
According to the latest rules in force, wearing a mask is compulsory indoors for all individuals over the age of 11. Children over the age of 6 will also have to wear it to school. From February 28, wearing a mask will no longer be an obligation in closed places, access to which is subject to presentation of the vaccination pass. Until then, all these places are concerned by the obligation:
- Transport. Bus and ferry stations as well as airports.
- Schools, holiday centers and leisure centres. The wearing of a compulsory mask concerns early learning, teaching and training establishments; holiday centres; leisure centers without accommodation for adult teachers and supervisors. Children over 6 years old (from primary school) must also wear it.
- Shops. Sales outlets, shopping centers and covered markets are affected by the wearing of compulsory masks.
- In company
Companies are subject to wearing a mandatory mask via a health protocol defined by the Ministry of Labor. This document indicates that “following the update of scientific knowledge on the transmission of the virus by aerosols and taking into account the recommendations of the HCSP dated August 28, 2020 and January 14, 18 and 20, 2021, the wearing of a mask is systematic within companies in closed collective places. It is either a “general public filtration greater than 90%” mask (corresponding to the so-called “category 1″ mask), or a surgical type mask”. Exceptions are provided for, such as in individual offices, well-ventilated workshops or when the work is carried out outdoors.
At school, masks once again became a compulsory accessory everywhere in France on November 15, 2021. Since that date, children have been forced to wear a mask from the age of 6, i.e. from primary school. For parents, teachers and adult supervisors, it is also compulsory within the establishment, both indoors and outdoors. After almost four months of obligation, students as well as teachers and supervising staff will be able, from February 28, to remove the masks outdoors. Wearing a mask will also no longer be necessary when practicing indoor physical activities as long as social distancing is respected.
The announcement is part of the new health protocol at school gradually lightened from the start of the February holidays, i.e. February 21 for zone B (Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice , Orleans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Rouen and Strasbourg).
The mask is no longer a mandatory outdoor accessory since February 2 and the first wave of lifting of restrictions. It is no longer compulsory but it remains recommended and the government is appealing to the logic of the French to reconnect with the wearing of a mask in very busy places.
Schools are the only places in which wearing a mask is always compulsory outdoors, such as in playgrounds or outdoor sports arenas. For students and teachers, the end date of the obligation is set for February 28 in accordance with the reductions in the health protocol set out this Friday, February 11, 2022.
The fine in force in the event of non-compliance with the wearing of the compulsory mask should remain at 135 euros. “Failure to comply with this measure could be liable, as is the case in other places where wearing a mask is compulsory, in particular transport, to a 4th class fine” defined by a fixed fine of 135 euros , had specified the general directorate of health as soon as this measure was put in place last year. In case of recidivism, the amount can go up to 1500 euros.