COVID MASK. Soon, the wearing of the mask will no longer be imposed in “enclosed places subject to the vaccination pass”. The executive is optimistic and hopes that by mid-March it will also be abandoned in businesses, schools and public transport.
[Mis à jour le 25 février 2022 à 17h20] The date of February 28 is fast approaching. In a few days, the end of the obligation to wear a mask in “enclosed places subject to the vaccination pass” will be recorded. From this crucial date, the FFP2 mask, surgical or fabric in cinemas, concert halls and performance halls, in theatres, museums, libraries, sports halls, enclosed and covered sports establishments, but also in game rooms, escape games, or even casinos, it is ended ! This will also be the case in bars, restaurants, fairs, exhibitions and professional seminars, from this date. While the restrictive measures are being lifted little by little, we are entitled to wonder about the situation of public transport, businesses and schools. If the students were able to drop the mask during recess on their return from their February holidays, it is still compulsory in the classrooms… Perhaps not for very long. Indeed, Olivier Véran, Minister of Solidarity and Health, guest of RTL on February 20, was rather optimistic on the issue, assuring that there was a “collapse of the Omicron wave”, “which reduces its pace by two each week”. According to him, this “collapse” suggests that, “by mid-March”, “hospital and epidemic conditions will make it possible to remove the mask inside and to remove all or part of the vaccine pass”.
By favorable “hospital and epidemic conditions”, Olivier Véran had, on February 17, indicated that he intended to condition the abandonment of the mask in companies, schools and public transport to a maximum threshold of 1,500 patients in critical care.. This February 22, interviewed by the information mission of the Social Affairs Committee in the Senate as part of an “information mission on the adequacy of the vaccination pass to the evolution of the epidemic of COVID-19“, he specified several other conditions necessary for the abandonment of the vaccination pass – which could, perhaps, also concern the end of the mask indoors: “It would also require a low incidence rate (300-500 maximum)” and that “the R factor [devra] permanently lower than 1”, he declared in particular, already congratulating himself, assuring that “we will reach it, and there too within 2 or 3 weeks maximum, it is good news”. All these conditions should be met around mid-March, project the health authorities and the executive: it is therefore aA new deadline which is added to the timetable for the gradual lifting of health restriction measures which is given by the government, and which completes that of February 28.
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 appeals 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.