Already compulsory from the age of 11 in certain public places, the wearing of a mask will be extended to children from the age of 6, from Monday January 3.
The decree dated December 31 was published this Saturday in the Official Journal.
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The rule will be applicable in public transport, establishments open to the public, sports complexes, places of worship and outside, in the territories where the prefects and mayors have restored the wearing of masks (Val-de-Marne , Paris, Lyon ...).
The decision comes a few days before the start of the school year under high tension due to the Omicron surge (more than 232,200 cases on December 31, a record).
On December 17, five days before the opening of vaccination for 5-11 year olds, 0.5% of classes were closed in France.
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As of January 3, the health protocol will change at school: if a schoolboy tests positive, two tests will be requested from his classmates (instead of one) to return.
"
Access to education is a fundamental right of children and vaccination against Covid-19 will not be a condition for going to school
", specifies the Ministry of Health and Solidarity.