There is the rule and there is the exception. It is still possible to eat and drink ” quickly “ in case of need in public transport even if this is prohibited, assured the Minister Delegate in charge of transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Monday, January 3.
“If you have an imperative need to eat or drink on the train because you are fragile or simply because you have this physiological need, you can remove your mask. (…) quickly and put it back immediately afterwards », he said on BFM-TV. “What we want to avoid (…), it is the phenomena, which are marginal but which exist, of the person who takes off his mask while eating crisps for several minutes, even several hours ”, explained the minister, before adding: “This is the kind of abuse we want to avoid. “
“Measure applied with discernment”
Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on December 27 at a press conference that the consumption of food and beverages would be “Prohibited in (…) public transport, including long distance ‘, from January 3.
A decree published on Saturday Official newspaper banned the sale on board until January 23 – what Mr Djebbari called “Common sense measure” -, but does not prohibit consumption.
The French National Railway Company (SNCF), however, followed Mr. Castex’s instructions and prohibited eating and drinking on board its trains.
“On long-distance journeys, this measure will be applied with discernment, in particular for young children and to allow them to quench their thirst”, however, specified a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport on December 28.
The fifth wave of Covid-19 also continues to disrupt regional trains, some railway workers being sick, in case of contact or having to look after their children. On Monday, the company canceled 7% of its TER, but the epidemic had no impact on mainline traffic and the Paris suburbs, according to a spokesperson.