While the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, declared Monday, May 17 on BFMTV that France will arrive “
soon
” at a point where the mask will no longer be compulsory outdoors, the prefecture of Ardèche has taken the lead.
Thierry Devimeux, the prefect of the department, announced in a press release adapting the wearing of masks in certain public spaces.
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From May 19, a date that marks the reopening of non-essential shops and restaurant terraces, the mask will no longer be compulsory outdoors in Ardèche.
A decision justified by the improvement of the health situation in this department where the incidence rate is 82.6 per 100,000 inhabitants and the positivity rate at 3.9%.
"
The logic is to reduce the perimeter concerned by the wearing of the compulsory mask due to the drop in epidemic indicators but to maintain this obligation in areas with high population density and which will be very busy as the summer period approaches
" , indicates the prefecture.
Mandatory near educational and cultural establishments
The mask will therefore remain mandatory in outdoor spaces where "
attendance is high and does not allow the respect of barrier gestures
" until June 29, said the press release. In city centers, meeting places or even markets, residents will have to continue to wear a mask. Likewise within a perimeter of 50 meters on the outskirts of educational, cultural and sports establishments, places of worship, shops and public transport stops. The prefecture recalls, however, that “
the measures may be reassessed depending on the epidemic situation and the application of barrier gestures.
"
Other departments have announced similar reliefs. In a decree dated May 11, Nicolas Basselier, the prefect of Charente-Maritime, relaxed the wearing of masks in some municipalities of the department. The prefect of Creuse, Viriginie Darpheuille, for her part announced on France Bleu Creuse the end of the obligation of the mask outdoors from May 20 for people traveling alone or with family and far from frequented places.
