France savoured a fresh sense of freedom Thursday as people were allowed to remove face masks when outside for the first time since last autumn and Disneyland Paris welcomed visitors after an eight-month Covid hiatus, reports FRANCE 24.
The easing of coronavirus rules came as authorities hailed a rapid decline in new cases on the eve of summer holidays, raising hopes for a more vibrant and relaxed tourist season.
"I'm happy, it frees us a little bit," said Aïcha Dramé , a student in the capital, where roughly half of pedestrians on many busy streets enjoyed the new-found freedom.
"We're getting back to normal and it feels good," she told AFP.
The nationwide curfew of 11 pm will be lifted ahead of schedule on Sunday, the government announced Wednesday, reinforcing a sense that France's vaccination drive is starting to pay off.
Health minister Olivier Véran said 60 percent of adults have now received at least one Covid jab, and youths 12 and over are now eligible as well.