Before the Senate, the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, announced Thursday that the wearing of the mask would be made compulsory in closed places welcoming the public as of next week, instead of August 1, the date initially communicated by Emmanuel Macron, during his interview of July 14.
Voices were raised against this adoption, deemed too late for the measure. “I heard and understood that this deadline appeared late or raised some questions. The decree will therefore come into force next week, "Jean Castex told senators.
Wearing the mask compulsory in closed public places: "We were considering an entry into force of these provisions on August 1. This deadline appeared late, the decree will come into force next week" @JeanCASTEX # DirectSénat pic.twitter.com/1oOPwLki9t
- Public Senate (@publicsenat) July 16, 2020The government spokesman, Gabriel Attal, estimated on France Info, Thursday, that this obligation should be accompanied by sanctions.
A measure already in place in six municipalities in Mayenne
For the past 48 hours, the government has reiterated that the French should not wait until August 1 to take the initiative to wear a mask in enclosed public places. While indicating that the implementation of the measure required technical improvements in the establishments which prevented the immediate adoption of the decree.
Thursday, Jean Castex explained that the implementation of this measure "requires a decree while in so-called professional premises, this implies an evolution of health protocols governing the activities concerned".
A little earlier, on France Inter, the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, spoke of "weak signals of epidemic recovery" in "certain Parisian hospitals". He also considered the situation in Mayenne “problematic”, where the prefect has already ordered the wearing of masks in closed places welcoming the public in six municipalities including Laval.
