The Versailles administrative court suspended this Wednesday, January 12 the prefectural decree making it compulsory to wear a mask outdoors in the Yvelines department, according to a press release. A first on the national territory.
Seized by individuals, the judge in summary proceedings considered that this “obligation could only be imposed on condition that the local epidemiological situation justifies it and that the wearing of a mask is limited to places and at times of heavy traffic”, according to the report. communicated.
He therefore considered that the measure was “an excessive, disproportionate and inappropriate interference with individual liberty”.
If the risk of contamination is “lower in the open air”, the magistrate however agreed that it was not “excluded when there is a high concentration of people” and that the prefect could “delimit areas of obligation of wearing the mask outdoors ”in the event of high density.
Contacted by AFP, the prefecture of Yvelines said “take note of the decision of the administrative court of Versailles” and “study it to adapt the obligation to wear a mask outdoors”, particularly in terms of areas and schedule. A new decree should therefore be drafted soon.