The Return of Mandatory Mask Wearing?
13th Dec 2022
With a triple epidemic of Covid, bronchitis and flu in France, there are increasing calls for the obligatory wearing of masks.
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For several weeks now the government and health experts in France have been calling on the 'responsibility' of its citizens to respect barrier gestures.
In November the Académie Nationale de Médecine recommended to the government that the wearing of a mask was now "necessary" in enclosed public areas in order to protect public health.
Earlier this month President Macron stated that it was necessary to "resume habits" in the face of the Covid epidemic, but "on a voluntary basis." He added, "Faced with the resurgence of the epidemic (..) I think it's good to do pedagogy because we do not want to return to generalised obligations."
His Minister of Health François Braun later took a slightly more assertive position stating that “My arm will not tremble if it is necessary to decide the obligation to wear a mask, including in all circumstances."
Recent polls seem to suggest that most French agree with them. In a recent survey 76% of those interviewed would be in favour of the mandatory wearing of masks on public transport. However, a subsequent poll revealed that only 46% systematically do so.
Earlier this month the committee overseeing health risks was asked by the government to make an assessment of whether the wearing of masks should be made mandatory in enclosed public spaces. A recommendation is expected before Christmas.
However, the introduction of mandatory mask wearing may not be plain sailing for the government. Since the ending of the state of emergency over the health crisis, a new law would be required for such a measure. With the government in a minority in the French parliament, it is not evident that they would have the political support to do so.
One other solution therefore being considered is to devolve responsibility for mask wearing down to the local prefet and mayors, who would be in a position to issue local orders as a public health measure.
Mask wearing can already be made compulsory in medical and elderly establishments if the head deems it necessary, which is almost universally the case.
With less than two weeks to go before the start of the festive season, Covid cases continue to spread across the country at high speed.
According to Santé Publique, most recent figures show the incidence rate at 634 per 100,000 inhabitants, an increase of 11% in 7 days. There were nearly 11,000 cases confirmed in the 7 days to 12th Dec and 7,257 new hospitalisations, of whom 600 were admitted to intensive care. Over the same period there were 413 Covid related deaths. In total there have been nearly 160,000 deaths since the outbreak of the epidemic.
Last week the French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne stated "I think it's important for everyone to keep in mind that we are currently facing a resumption of the Covid epidemic, a flu epidemic and an epidemic of bronchiolitis. In the face of all these viruses, the mask protects us, the mask protects others, so we must wear the mask, especially when we are in an enclosed space where there are many people."
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