One of the regions in southwestern France will see the restoration of the use of face masks in all public spaces indoors and out following a rise in Covid-19 infections due to the Delta variant, reports RFI.
Drinking alcohol drinking will also be prohibited outdoors in the Pyrénées-Orientales department on the Mediterranean coast just north of Spain. However, according to a statement by the regional authorities, masks will not be required on beaches or in wide open spaces such as mountain trails.
"More measures could be announced depending on the evolution of health indications and pressure on the hospital system," the prefecture said.
The Pyrénées-Orientales department has currently the highest incident rate in France at 257 per 100,000 people, up from 130 on Monday -- well above the alert level of 50.
Rates are even higher in neighbouring Catalonia and elsewhere in Spain, and French officials have urged people not to cross the border for holidays.