Finally a glimmer of hope for all professional or amateur athletes?
A mask specially adapted for physical activity is being prepared.
This project led by the Ministry of Sports and various public and private actors should allow the reopening of sports halls, closed since September 28.
Like bars and restaurants, they are associated with an "increased risk" of the spread of the coronavirus, according to the ComCor study on the sites of contamination, published in December.
For Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu, "
it is a tool for returning to sport, which will allow sports halls in particular to be able to reopen
".
Read also: Breathless, sports halls call on the state for help
In the summer of 2020, the Ministry of Sports decided to launch a mask project specifically adapted to sports practice.
The standard fabric protectors did not allow good breathing and fell too easily.
The specification was entrusted to the Association Française de Normalization (Afnor), already at the origin of the standard for reusable fabric masks.
After several months of work, the association must deliver its conclusions "at the
end of January, at the beginning of February
", specifies Jennifer Gredat, communication officer for Afnor.
Once finalized, the recommendations will be made freely available to all.
The aim is to enable manufacturers to launch production and test phases as quickly as possible.
The latter could begin "in the first quarter of 2021", writes Decathlon in a
press
release, which warns, however, "
wanting to move forward step by step
", well aware of the expectations surrounding this project.
Tests hoped for in the first quarter of 2021
In order to provide real added value, these masks must provide the same guarantees in terms of filtration, but allow greater accountability.
All with good support on the face, to avoid falling.
“
It is a mask that would allow today the practice of sport in an indoor environment, all sports combined.
A mask in which we place a lot of hope,
”announced the Minister.
Read also: Why some sports halls remain open despite the confinement
This mask is eagerly awaited by many managers of sports halls.
But the marketing of the mask "
does not guarantee a de facto opening of sports halls
", warns the ministry, which is not in any case master of the decision.
"
It depends on the health authorities, under the responsibility of the Minister of Health
" clarified the ministry, which wishes to avoid giving false hope.
Sports halls are "
in a dramatic situation
", Virgile Caillet, General Delegate at Union Sport and Cycle tells us straight away, "
they have been closed for seven months now
".
Well aware that this sesame will not be sufficient to obtain the reopening, he hopes despite everything this mask "
will be a tremendous help for the reopening
".