Face Mask requirements

I've been in France, Germany, and Austria over the last 6 weeks. In general, people wear KN95 masks where masks are required (e.g., public transportation or the rare store that requires them). On the trains in Bavaria, KN95 masks are specifically required. An American couple was chastised by the ticket guy on a Bavarian regional train for wearing only surgical masks.

Actually, hardly anyone in Europe wears KN95 masks. The EU mask that's roughly equivalent is the FFP2 mask. That's what you'll find for sale in European countries.

As for France, there's no preference for what's commonly called a surgical mask versus an FFP2. Either one would be accepted in pretty much any place. However, an FFP2 would do a better job at protecting the wearer from airborne viruses compared to a surgical mask, which is intended to protect others from the wearer.

Since the recent reduction in masking requirements, neither are required in most places, though I still see probably 50 percent of the shoppers at my local E. Leclerc hypermarché wearing masks, with at least half of those being FFP2.

Since they dropped the requirements almost no one wears masks. It is prudent to wear them indoors at museums, stores and certainly on transport -- but most people will not be wearing them so it is a very good idea to bring good masks like n95s with you that offer YOU some protection. It is isn't about 'requirements' ; there no longer are any but about getting a negative test before heading home.

“ but I'm assuming all the european countries have the same mask requirements.”
This assumption is not correct. Each country in Europe has different entry rules, different quarantine rules, different mask wearing rules etc etc. If you visit multiple countries you will need to catch up with the various requirements of each individual country.

In those countries in Europe that require serious masks, they want the FFP2 mask. That can include what we know as N95, KN95 and KF94. I recently purchased a group of FFP2 masks that were actually KF94's. I find them more comfortable than N95.

And also stated, not all European countries have the same mask requirements. Many don't require any masks at all.

As an example, France no long requires face masks on public transit, in museums or in stores. It's recommended, but not required. The same for Switzerland.

Just returned from France…no masks required except on the trains….and even then the staff asked me to put a mask on while looking at my husband who did not have a mask on and demanding he do nothing…??????…you will see various people with them on by personal choice but we did not see them anywhere else…..

“ Just returned from France…no masks required except on the trains”

In France the mask requirement on public transport was dropped on May 16, 2022. You no longer need to wear a mask, but you may of course still choose to wear one.

In France now - we wear masks everywhere in hopes of not contracting covid which would delay our return. No requirements except at one site in Strasbourg. No requirement in Switzerland either. Rode trains, buses, trams in Paris, Strasbourg, Luzern and on train to Avignon.

How do you spot an American tourist? The ones wearing a mask. But we have overheard many Americans in various places and they did not have masks on.

Since they dropped the requirements almost no one wears masks.

That is false. Untrue. The author of that is misinformed.

I live in western Normandie and mask wearing on the street is probably in the 5% to 10% range, mask wearing in open-air markets is in the 10% to 20% range, while mask wearing in supermarchés and hypermarchés is in the 50% range.

Variations occur, of course, but to state that "almost no one wears masks" these days in France is simply untrue. And -- despite the suggestion of another respondent -- mask wearing is not an indication of being a tourist. More often than not, they're middle-aged to elderly people careful about their health. A few school-aged kids, but fewer than a year ago. Mostly older folks.

And there's no need to bring N95 or KN95 masks with you, other than what you need to get through your flight and the airport. Similar FFP2 masks are widely available for purchase at stores in France.

Thank U all so much. This is very helpful information

I agree with Sammy's estimate of the percentage of people masked where we live in the south of France. It's quite similar. People who want to be masked, are masked.

It really varies across the country. Sitting on the metro in Paris right now, the rate of mask-wearing is barely 10%. Wear yours to minimize risks before heading home!