Deconfinement: in Nice, mandatory masks are displayed on the Promenade des Anglais

What becomes of a mask when it rains? The people of Nice tested it, life-size, this Monday under the downpours which marked the beginnings of deconfinement. These headwinds did not prevent them from slowly, but surely resuming possession of the Promenade des Anglais, which has been banned for two months. With a local peculiarity: a municipal decree provisionally taken at the end of the day (repealing a more restrictive first version challenged in court) requires the wearing of masks in public places where social distancing from a meter is impossible or in case of heavy crowds , for example when entering and leaving class.

Compulsory or not depending on the circumstances, it does not matter for Anne-Sophie, who came to brave, a little earlier, the elements of the emblematic site of Nice with her daughter Louise, one year old. The mother has her mask on, one of 650,000 distributed free by the city. "We would have had to wear it all before, it would probably have limited the epidemic even if here we were not very affected. This will serve as a lesson for the next time, ”says the self-entrepreneur.

"If I meet people, I will put it"

Absorbed by the stormy waves that sweep over the pebbles, Frédéric, a cook in a large hotel, is caught in the bag ... with nothing on his nose. "It's in my pocket," he explains, proudly showing off his crumpled model. I breathe, I am so happy to see the sea again. If I meet people, I will put it because it is necessary! "

Violators are liable to a fine of 11 euros (38 euros for the increased PV). A sanction that somewhat irritates the mood of a couple of fifties who also came to smell the marine atmosphere. "I don't understand," said the husband, who wears a colorful model ... around his neck. In shops and public transport, it's useful, but on the street, frankly not. Stop all these prohibitions! He plagues while a panting runner emerges a little further, with a surgical mask on his nose which visibly does little to help him breathe properly.

"All my clients will have to wear one"

Out of breath certainly, but in the nails since the mayor had warned, when announcing the first version of the municipal decree: "The joggers should have it on them and put it when they come across someone!" Traders in the sector too are more or less into it. "All my customers will have to wear one, otherwise they will not enter the store," says Emilie, a hat seller on Cours Saleya, deserted since her dozens of restaurants have closed.

In the narrow alleys of Old Nice, where it will be impossible to respect social distanciations in the event of a large crowd, the manager of a boutique of “made in France” products is more nuanced: “We will be careful. But if a client doesn't wear one and they buy things from me, I can't imagine putting them out so much we suffered economically. »Business is business!