Implementation of Stringent Mask Rule in France Amidst Surge of COVID- 19

Prime Minister of France Jean Castex has responded to the steep rise in the coronavirus with a set of prevention measures that include optimized testing and mandatory face coverings.  The number of red zones in Paris has increased from two to twenty-one. And if the country did not act fast, the growth of this infection can become exponential.

Many European countries are witnessing a new surge in the COVID-19 cases. France has recorded the highest daily infection number since the lockdown ended in early May. There has been an additional case registered of 6,111 over the last 24 hours.

And 48 deaths were announced on August 27th, 2020. On the whole, over 30, 5000 people have died, and around 300,000 have been infected by France’s virus.

Mask Been Made Compulsory in Paris

The prime minister promised that they would be doing everything to stop the spread of the virus and avoid another lockdown. In this attempt, he has made wearing masks compulsory in the capital.

Although individual streets in Paris already had mandated rules on wearing masks, this new rule is significantly expansive. The rule does not only apply in Paris, but also in Hauts-de-Seine, Val-de-Marne, and Seine-Saint-Denis. Citizens in the country must get to the mask store and get themselves masks if they want to go out.

This new rule has come to effect from 8:00 am on Friday. All pedestrians will have to wear masks in public areas. The same goes for people who are on motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, and many other mobility vehicles.

Paris and Bouches-du-Rhone is already a red zone. Additionally, Marseille has also made masks compulsory on Wednesday. The entire inner rings have been marked as the red zone along with the Gironde region around Bordeaux and the border expanse of the southern coastal fringe.

New Normal with Face Mask

School children over the age of 11 will also have to adopt masks as part of the new life. The WHO recommends the use of masks for students above the age of 12.  From next month, the mask will be mandatory in the workplace as well.

Olivier Vernon, the Health Minister, promised to increase the nationwide testing and reach the mark of million tests per week by September. The country wants to make testing accessible for anyone who needs one, as well as anyone who wants them.

Germany In The Similar Journey

Masks have become an integral part of Germany’s stringent restrictions envisioned to curb the steep in cases. While the fatality cases in this country have been relatively lower than other Western European nations, the government, along with 16, have introduced a set of new measures.

Jens Spahn, the Health Minister of the country, claims that German labs are attaining more than their targeted testing capacity. However, the Volkmar Weckesser, whose company executes the Frankfurt airport tests, revealed that they are not even close to achieving the target capacity.