Covid-19: in Paris, the mask again compulsory outdoors in certain circumstances

Five days after the Paris administrative court suspended the prefectural decree which made it compulsory to wear a mask outdoors in Paris since December 31, the Paris police chief Didier Lallement was quick to react.

In a press release on Monday, the police prefecture indicates that the latter has taken note of the decision of the judge in chambers administrative court of Paris, “which excludes the possibility of imposing the compulsory wearing of a protective mask on the entire Parisian territory”.

“The current epidemic situation, with an extremely high incidence rate and a still very strong pressure on hospitalization, requires that measures be taken so that the outdoor space, however limited the risks, is not a place contamination”, considers the prefecture justifying by these reasons the decision by the prefect of a new decree today. The document thus restores the wearing of the mask outdoors, in certain circumstances.

In order to comply with the decision of the administrative court, the new decree imposes the wearing of a mandatory mask. “in a series of circumstances and places in which the population density does not guarantee, without wearing a mask, proper respect for barrier gestures.”

Among the places concerned: markets, flea markets, garage sales, gatherings, demonstrations, meetings or activities bringing together more than 10 people on the public highway, places waiting for public transport such as bus stops, the surroundings of stations and shopping centers, the surroundings of schools, universities or places of worship, in queues in public spaces.

The police headquarters indicates that “similar decrees are taken in each of the departments of the Ile-de-France Region, this measure having been the subject of coordination under the aegis of the prefect of police, in charge of the coordination of the actions of the management of the health crisis in the Ile-de-France territory”.

Anyone who does not comply with this new decree may be fined up to 135 euros.