The health minister announced today that as of next Monday, May 16, the government is lifting the requirement to wear a mask when on public transport (and in stations).
He said wearing a mask on public transport will remain "recommended" - but we all know how that will go !
Thanks Kim for keep us up to date and all the insight you give us.
We have several friends in Paris all of whom have been infected with COVID in the last month by non mask wearing co-workers coming to work sick.
Many people already were not wearing masks on transport; we certainly will continue in hops of not testing positive for our trip home in a couple of weeks.
Public transport is the one place where everyone really ought to be wearing masks given the crowded poorly ventilated conditions.
I'll definitely keep wearing it a bit longer on urban transport. Not sure I'll want to do so on the 4hr train rides I regularly take - since I typically remove the mask to eat and drink anyway, it never felt very protective there.
Balso, I am sure you are right. If you are having dinner on train or plane and the person in the seat ahead of you is infected, you are likely to be, but there is also some reason to think that viral load is important. Masks may reduce the absolute number of viruses you suck in and that may affect how seriously sick you get.
Yes i am absolutely going to continue wearing my mask on the metro. No question !
It's such a simple measure that gives a decent amount of protection.
Janet, you mentioned people here with colleagues turning up with Covid. Indeed, my boss tested positive on Friday. So I am glad I have been continuing to mostly wear my mask at work too !! (But not at all as diligently as I do on the metro or a bus).
We’ve been on the metro in Paris every day this week. I’d say 98% of passengers are properly wearing their mask. I’m glad we won’t be here after the requirement is lifted! We’ll be in France for a bit longer but only have a couple of train trips ahead of us. Our masks will be on!
We have several friends in Paris all of whom have been infected with
COVID in the last month by non mask wearing co-workers coming to work
sick.
Of course, there is no way of knowing that that is how they contracted the virus. That is just speculation and judgement.
Bumping back up, as today is the day.
janettravels44, I agree about wearing masks on public transport. I've been done with wearing masks for awhile now, but on my trip this month to the UK, I plan to wear a KN95 when people are boarding the plane and while on the Tube. I am also considering wearing the mask while on the bus on a Rabbies tour. Some situations are too much of a risk even by my standards. And this is totally a guess, but I feel more vulnerable away from my normal locations because other places might have higher transmission rates and/or new strains of the virus. In my local areas, I kinda think that if I were going to get it, it would already have happened-and yes I know that this last comment is probably just being an ostrich with my head buried in the sand.
And indeed, mask wearing % this morning in the busy AM commute was down to 1/3 or so. Not great for anyone who needs a negative test to get home...
yup -- we are in our last 10 days now -- and virtually no young people are wearing masks on the metro -- and most older people aren't either. We may find ourselves extending our stay. (were it not for needed medical treatment for my husband this would not be a problem for us -- but it can be disastrous for people with short vacations from work.)
