It was already strongly recommended by traders since the deconfinement. It could become mandatory. The town hall of Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis) has officially proposed to the prefect to impose the wearing of a mask in the Flea district, and its alleys often conducive to promiscuity.
A request that echoes that of the mayor (PS) of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to impose the wearing of masks outdoors in certain areas of the capital. In the process, Tuesday, the police chief Didier Lallement had also expressed his wish to extend it to other sites in the inner suburbs of Paris.
If no decision has yet been taken, in Seine-Saint-Denis, the prefecture has launched a consultation with the mayors, in recent hours, with a view to making a decree in this direction. It will concern "places in the department with high attendance that do not guarantee compliance with health recommendations in terms of social distancing," she said.
The other markets of the city concerned
The mayor (PS) of Saint-Ouen, Karim Bouamrane thus says to have proposed "several sites": the Puces but also "the two food markets Ottino and Landy, as well as the avenue Gabriel-Péri", which connects the center- city at the door of Saint-Ouen.
While waiting to know if these sites will be well selected, "the operators of the markets have been informed of this proposal", specifies the city council.
In the alleys of the Flea markets this Friday morning, customers welcome this proposal. “It's a good thing because the goal is to preserve us all. You have to know how to be reasonable, ”says Christelle Desgenest, a tourist from Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine), who already wears the mask in the aisles.
“It's a necessity, we have to protect ourselves and people,” adds François Casal, merchant in rue Paul-Bert. “In the market, there are fragile people, the elderly, the sick, you have to pay attention to them,” adds another trader.
"Many people already wear the mask in the aisles"
Even if other merchants point the finger at the low attendance in recent days, caused in particular by the absence of tourists and international customers. “Right now there are a lot less people on the market. People are far from each other, and then with the heat, I don't think we really need it, ”says Élisabeth Claverie, from the Biron market.
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But all agree on one point: this measure, if it were to be confirmed, will not pose a problem for customers, as François Casal explains: “There is already the compulsory wearing of a mask in shops, and then many people already wear the mask in the aisles ”.