The mask becomes mandatory again in the streets of Paris from Friday to deal with the “tidal wave” of the Omicron variant which has led to an outbreak of Covid 19 contaminations in France, the capital’s police headquarters announced on Wednesday .
This obligation applies to people over 11 years old, “with the exception of people circulating inside vehicles, cyclists and users of two wheels” or “people practicing a sporting activity”, specified the prefecture in a press release.
135 euros fine
Wearing a mask will also be compulsory in places open to the public in Paris, “with the exception of the Bois de Boulogne and Vincennes, and on the rights-of-way of the airports of Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Le Bourget and Paris-Orly” , according to the press release.
Access to the terminals of these airports remains prohibited for people accompanying passengers, added the prefecture. “Regular and reinforced controls will be put in place from Friday”, she also indicated, “in particular in the dense places of the capital”. Offenders may be fined 135 euros.
Discos closed for three additional weeks
At the same time, the prefecture announced the closure of drinking establishments on Saturday and Sunday from 2:00 am, also prohibiting “all dance activities in all establishments open to the public”. Nightclubs, closed since December 10, will have to keep their doors closed for three more weeks in January.
Gatherings of people giving rise to the consumption of alcohol on public roads are also prohibited in Paris. Nearly 9,000 police and soldiers will be mobilized to enforce these measures during the night of New Year’s Eve.
France records records for Covid-19 contamination with 208,000 new cases on Wednesday, after around 180,000 during the previous twenty-four hours.