The French will no longer be required to wear a face mask on public transport. And this from Monday, May 16, announced the government.
Health Minister Olivier Véran said today that: “The epidemic situation is improving. The pandemic is not over but the number of new daily cases is decreasing. The hospital situation is improving and we consider that it is no longer appropriate to maintain the compulsory wearing of masks in public transport.
“So from Monday you will be able to breathe a little more freely as the temperatures rise. »
He announced the move following today’s (11 May) cabinet meeting of the Council of Ministers, adding that masks would still be “recommended”.
Masks are currently mandatory on all public transport. Including buses, trains, trams, metro services, planes and ships. Mr Véran said the requirement would be waived on “all” transport options, but did not give a definitive list.
The mask and health pass requirements currently in place in hospitals and care homes will remain in place.
Some 56,449 Covid cases were recorded on May 10. That is 15.8% less than seven days ago.
There are currently 1,364 Covid patients being treated in intensive care units. With 1,167 people admitted to hospital yesterday.
Mask recommendation dropped for EU flights
The French government’s announcement comes as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) issued a statement saying that their recommendation to passengers to plane to wear masks on flights and at airports will end. May 16.
“From next week, face masks will no longer need to be mandatory in air travel. Broadly aligning with the changing requirements of national authorities across Europe for public transport”. EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky said.
For passengers and crew, this is a big step forward in the standardization of air transport.
Passengers should, however, behave responsibly and respect the choices of others around them. And a coughing and sneezing passenger should strongly consider wearing a face mask. This is to reassure people sitting nearby.
While the two bodies’ mask-wearing recommendation will end next week, it will still be up to individual airlines to set their own rules.
This could mean that masks are still required on flights to or from a destination that still has mask-wearing mandates on public transport.
