In Nice, after The Avener's concert, Estrosi requests the return of the mask

The mask, the return to Nice! After being one of the first to try to impose its port in the public space (then to have backed down for legal reasons) and organized the massive distribution to the inhabitants, the mayor Christian Estrosi (LR) announced this Sunday afternoon that it would now be imposed in all events organized by the city. A way to confine the spectacular controversy born a little earlier around the free concert of DJ The Avener.

Saturday evening, the sound and light show, offered by the town, also broadcast in streaming, attracted thousands of people, to say the least, relaxed with the application of barrier gestures on the Promenade des Anglais and the Quai des Etats-Unis. The images of a compact crowd without mask, dancing near the speakers, glued-tight in the fashion of the world before, have greatly shocked social networks and the medical world worried about the arrival of a second wave of Covid- 19.

VIDEO. Lack of distance and masks: The Avener's concert is controversial in Nice

"The event respected government security regulations (with a maximum gauge of 5000 people, editor's note) ", defended the elected official, criticized, with the prefecture, by political opponents and many Internet users. According to him, "compliance with the distancing measures had been reminded via audio messages and the wearing of a mask highly recommended".

But from theory to practice, there is a step, hardly taken by the spectators. "We regret that these instructions were not sufficiently respected, he admits before ... placing a small sharp stone in the State garden:" We ask him to review the decree that governs major events in order to impose wearing a mask outside, ”he said on his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

We regret that these instructions have not been sufficiently respected and ask the State to review the decree which governs major events in order to impose the wearing of masks, even outside. At # Nice06, it will now be mandatory for all our events.

"It would have taken thousands of police ..."

A controversy rejected by the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes. “We cannot prohibit everything. There is not a person who does not know that there are barrier gestures to be respected and we did not deplore a single incident during this evening. If the mask had been compulsory, it would have taken thousands of police to enforce it, ”reacted Remi Recio, director of the prefect's office. While he says he "understands the concerns" linked to the videos circulating on the Internet, he also highlights the difficulty of finding "a point of balance between health security and the resumption of normal life": "When we prepared for this event, we were in a position of deconfinement to return to normal life. "

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It had to be a great party with a famous artist (who is also a native of Nice) against a backdrop of photogenic decor to kick off the city's event season. It was. But the individual lapses spoil his tomorrow.