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Masks to be *Required* Indoors in Public Spaces in France as of Monday July 20

As I noted on Kateja’s thread about her visit to Paris, up until now, masks have been required on public transport and when entering and exiting (or moving around within) restaurants; shop owners had the ability to require you to wear a mask to enter, but it wasn’t mandated by the government.

The government has now decided to go a bit further and require masks in all “enclosed public spaces.” So — shops, hotel lobbies, banks etc.

The decree detailing the measure will be published today or tomorrow, but the Prime Minister already tweeted that it will take effect tomorrow ! (How it can take effect before the rules are actually laid out is a very good question. . . )

As a practical matter, if you have been, like me, wearing a mask in all these places anyway, it won’t make much difference. But it will be nice to have all others doing it as well.

Posted by
2547 posts

Will the authorities enforce it? It is mandatory here in Reno but we still see some who aren’t wearing a mask or half wearing a mask.

Posted by
8882 posts

Even if there are a few people who remain stubbornly uneducated, if we even get 90% of people to wear masks we can really make a difference in this pandemic.

Posted by
2703 posts

The new rule was announced about a week ago and many asked why wait until the first of August for implementation, why not start immediately? Macron was listening and moved it up to Monday.

There have been a few hotspots of increased spread recently, notably Mayenne and northern Ile de France form example. There may be further measures to control the virus. I believe that most countries are very serious about stopping the virus.

Posted by
543 posts

Kim, what is the general availability of masks and hand sanitizer in Pharmacies? As Canadians are permitted by the French Government to enter France effective July 1, we are lining up a 14 day trip to Provence in late September this year. We'll bring a healthy inventory of masks and hand sanitizer with us, but if we need more do you think they will be readily available?

Posted by
80 posts

Peter,
Surgical masks are readily available at pharmacies for around 30 euros for 50. Sometimes you can find them for around 25 at a physical pharmacy and if you have an address to send them to, 20 online.

Hand sanitizer is available at pharmacies. They have sprays, 70-90% liquid, small wipes, etc. Bus stops in Paris have a hand sanitizer dispenser so that's also convenient for when you're walking around. Not sure about Provence probably similar.

As for people asking about compliance, I can confirm that it was being complied with in Galeries Lafayette, Nespresso store, other shops, etc today.

Mask wearing isn't too common outside on sidewalks in Paris though. Mostly at risk people, elderly, people who recently arrived back in country. I'd guess it's a lot less common outdoors in Provence. Otherwise you'll see people complying with it where it's required since the police will enforce it.

Posted by
543 posts

75, thanks. Thats helpful and re-assuring.

Posted by
10203 posts

Peter, yes, and masks are also widely available in grocery stores — but the boxes are either behind the cash register or at the help desk. Monoprix, Franprix, anywhere, they have them. And the French government has fixed the price.

Same for hand sanitizer — as 75018 reported, widely available in pharmacies, but also in grocery stores. And just about any public place you enter now has a dispenser at the entry and probably several more dotted around besides.

Posted by
10203 posts

And today at a bookstore I saw hand sanitizer for sale in small individual bottles near the cash register. Stuff is really everywhere !!!

Posted by
776 posts

A friend in Paris has sent me a photo of a vending machine in a Paris metro dispensing hand sanitizer and masks. Has anyone else seen these?

Posted by
2703 posts

Has anyone mentioned anything about hand sanitizer being available free at bus stops?

Posted by
427 posts

Has anyone mentioned anything about hand sanitizer being available free at bus stops?

It's widely available at no cost -- at the entrance to practically any store or restaurant, and yes, at bus stops in Paris, where we were a couple of weeks ago, sanitizer dispensers have been installed. In Lyon, however, where we were last week, I don't recall seeing sanitizer dispensers at bus stops.

After the recent order, mask compliance in stores now is essentially 100 percent in our area, an improvement from around 50 percent before the change.. I had heard from friends that compliance along the Côte d'Azur was poor before the recent change, but I don't know how it is now.

Posted by
11570 posts

I have bought masks in bulk in medical supply stores, Ace hardware store, and a pharmacy. Sometimes they keep them behind the check out desks. Hand sanitizer is in large supply in pharmacies, not Purel, a no brand name, but I figure it has to work or a pharmacy wouldn’t sell it.

Posted by
10203 posts

Has anyone mentioned anything about hand sanitizer being available free at bus stops?

Yup, 75018 mentioned it in their post above.

Bus stops in Paris have a hand sanitizer dispenser so that's also convenient for when you're walking around.