Face masks will no longer be required on trains, planes and metros in France starting on May 16th, the health minister said Wednesday, lifting one of the last remaining Covid-19 measures imposed since the pandemic began in 2020, reports FRANCE 24.
"From Monday, May 16th, masks will no longer be mandatory for all public transport," health minister Olivier Véran said after a weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
"Wearing a mask remains recommended," he added, but the rule is "no longer appropriate" given the large drop in Covid cases recently.
France began easing its strict face mask rules in February after a winter surge in cases, but for weeks they were still required at the workplace or in schools until infections declined further. Masks as well as a health pass proving vaccination status are still required for entering hospitals, and people who test positive must still self-isolate for at least seven days.
On Tuesday, 56,449 new cases were reported over the previous 24 hours, mainly the Omicron variant, despite a concerted vaccination campaign that has seen 79.3 percent of the population receive all three required doses, according to health ministry data.