face masks

French health minister Olivier Véran on Wednesday announced that from next Monday the wearing of face masks on public transport across the country will no longer be mandatory, but will remain recommended.

Prime minister Jean Castex also urged businesses to encourage working from home and called on people to 'lift the pedal' on social interactions such as office parties as the year-end holidays approach.

At least a dozen COVID-19 clusters have emerged since French campuses and classrooms opened this month.

After a post-lockdown record level of new coronavirus infections in France registered on Wednesday,  Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Thursday that the wearing of face masks to contain transmission of the virus is to be made a legal requirement in all public spaces in Paris, adding that 'The spread of the epidemic could become exponential if we do not react quickly'.

Toulouse officials said masks would be compulsory outdoors starting this  Friday, from 7am to 3am the next day, for all people age 12 and over.

Faced with an increase in infections, especially among young adults, French health officials are expanding mask rules and warning against complacency.

France's health ministry reported 3,310 new coronavirus infections, marking a post-lockdown high for the fourth day in a row. 

After a steady rise in numbers of people testing positive with Covid-19 virus infection in Paris and its suburban ring, where the percentage of those testing positive is also above the national average, the wearing of face masks in 'crowded zones' has been made compulsory as of Monday.

As of today, the wearing of face masks is now compulsory in all 'indoor public spaces' with fines of €135 for non-compliance but the prime minister still has to clarify the places concerned.

The masks, obligatory on collective transport until now, will become compulsory in all indoor places frequented by the public, prime minister Jean Castex said in the Senate.

President Macron, speaking on  Bastille Day, also said he wanted COVID-19 testing available for everyone, without having to be referred by a doctor.

New prime minister Jean Castex said the main focus was on indoor spaces; currently face masks are mandatory on public transport.

A 59-year-old bus driver in the south-west French town of Bayonne who was beaten and left brain dead by a group of men passengers on Sunday allegedly in a row over their refusal to wear face masks as required by law, died on Friday in hospital.

Collective worship will have to observe conditions, including the wearing of masks, a distance of at least one metre between worshippers and hand-washing.

A factory in north-west France producing medical face masks, normally at a rate of 100 million per year, is working round the clock to meet demand from pharmacies and hospitals in Europe and Asia as the deadly coronavirus outbreak continues to spread.