Faced with the spread of the Delta variant and the fourth wave, several French cities and departments have decided to instate compulsory outdoor facemask-wearing again to curb the coronavirus epidemic.
Life almost felt normal again, but now, the coronavirus epidemic has hit again. After a major improvement in the health situation earlier this summer, the Covid-19 variants are a game-changer.
The Delta variant is now fighting on the European ring. This mutant is said to be already 60% more contagious than the Alpha variant (formerly known as the UK variant), that replaced the historic strain in France, causing a third wave at the end of the second lockdown.
Now, the Delta variant is about to take over all the other variants found in France. It has already caused an epidemic resurgence in France several days ago. A swift evolution casting causing a fourth wave in France. Given up mid-June – almost at the same time as curfew – compulsory outdoor facemask-wearing is back in several departments in France.
The 38 departments or cities reinstating compulsory outdoor facemask-wearing:
- In Alpes Maritimes
In pedestrian ways and city center areas featuring crowds until August 31. The rule does not apply to beaches, natural areas and urban green spaces.
- In Alpes de Haute-Provence
In a part of the Moustier-Sainte-Marie village until September 30. Facemasks are compulsory in Sisteron city center until further notice.
- In Aube
In the "Bouchon de Champagne" area until September 30
- In Aude
In the cities of Narbonne, Carcassonne, Lézignan-Corbières, Castelnaudray and Limoux, as well as Narbonne-Plage, Fleury d'Aude, Gruissan, Leucate, Port-La-Nouvelle but not on beaches.
- In Ariège
in 23 cities of the department (Foix, Ferrières, Montgaillard, St Paul de Jarrat, Pamiers, St Jean du Falga, La Tour du Crieu, Lavelanet, Laroque d'Olmes, St Girons, Tarascon sur Ariège, Saverdun, Mazères, Le Mas d'Azil, Mirepoix, St Lizier, Seix, Ax les Thermes, Aulus les Bains, Ornolac Ussat les Bains, Ussat, Varilhes and Carla -Bayle)
- In Calvados
In some cities: Villers-sur-Mer, Deauville and Honfleur until September 12, Trouville-sur-Mer, Blonville-sur-Mer, Ouistreham and Cabourg until August 31.
- In Charente-Maritime
Facemask-wearing compulsory in 45 cities (excluding in forests and at the beach): Ars-en-Ré, Bourgneuf, Châtelaillon-Plage, Clavette, Dolus-d’Oléron, Esnandes, Fouras, La-Brée-les-Bains, La Couarde-sur-Mer, La Flotte, La Jarne, La Jarrie, La Rochelle, Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, Le Château-d'Oléron, Le Grand-Village-Plage, Les Mathes, Les Portes-en-Ré, Loix, Marennes-Hiers-Brouage, Nieul-sur-Mer, Pont-l’Abbé-d’Arnoult, Port-des-Barques, Puilboreau, Rivedoux-Plage, Rochefort, Royan, Saint-Christophe, Saint-Clément-des-Baleines, Saint-Denis-d'Oléron, Saint-Georges de Didonne, Saint-Georges-d'Oléron, Saint-Jean-d'Angély, Saint-Martin-de-Ré, Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, Saint-Rogatien, Saint-Savinien, Saint-Trojan-les-Bains, Sainte-Marie-de-Ré, Saintes, Salles-sur-Mer, Thairé, Vaux-sur-Mer, Vérines, Yves
- In Corse-du-Sud
In the entire department on public squares and in some cities and sectors (from Porticcio to Grosseto-Prugna, from Baleone to Sarrola-Cacropino, in Ajaccio, Propriano, Sartène, Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio) until August 18. The rule does not apply to natural areas and beaches.
- In Côtes d'Armor
From 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. in some cities (Paimpol, Ploubazlanec, Perros-Guirec, Trébeurden, Trégastel, Tréguier, Binic-Etables-sur-Mer, Bréhat, Erquy, Pléneuf-Val-André, Plérin, Saint-Quay-Portrieux, Fréhel, Dinan, Lanvallay, Saint-Cast-Le-Guildo, Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer) until August 31.
- In Dordogne
In some tourist cities of the department (Périgueux, Bergerac, Brantôme, Sarlat, Le Bugue, Les Eyzies, Saint-Cyprien, Pays-de-Belvès, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Domme, La Roque-Gageac, Limeuil, Beynac, Montignac, Bourdeilles, Jumilhac-le-Grand, Saint-Jean-de-Côle, Le Buisson-de-Cadouin, Lalinde, Monpazier et Eymet and Sarlat) until August 31.
- In Finistère
From 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. until August 31 in Brest (beaches excluded) and in some cities (Audierne, Bénodet, Bohars, Brest, Clohars-Carnoët, Crozon, Douarnenez, Fouesnant, Gouesnou, Guilers, l’île de Batz, l’Île-Tudy, Le Relecq-Kerhuon, Le Guilvinec, Lesneven, Loctudy, Morlaix, Penmarc’h, Plabennec, Plougastel-Daoulas, Combrit Sainte Marine and Guipavas).
- In Gard
Everywhere on the public road until September 15, excluding beaches and bathing areas.
- In Gironde
In some areas in Bordeaux, Libourne, Saint-Emilion, littoral urban sectors from Soulac-sur-Mer to La Teste-de-Buch until August 31.
- In Haute Corse
In some areas of several cities (Bastia, Corte, Calenzana, Calvi, Ghisonaccia, l’Ile-Rousse, Moriani and Saint-Florent).
- In Haute Garonne
In the city center of Toulouse from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m.
- In Hautes-Alpes
In town centers and city centers with crowds, and natural areas, as soon as two-meter social distancing cannot be complied with, and until August 31.
- In Hautes-Pyrénées
In somes areas of the cities of Saint-Lary-Soulan and Lourdes.
- In Haute-Savoie
Between 9 a.m. and 2 a.m. in the biggest cities including Annecy, Saint-Julien and Thonon until August 31.
- In Hérault
In the entire department until August 31, 2021, excluding at the beach, in swimming areas, and big natural areas.
- In Ille-et-Vilaine
In Saint-Malo until August 30.
- In Landes
Until August 31 in highly-crowded cities (Aureilhan, Azur, Bias, Biscarrosse, Capbreton, Dax, Gastes, Labenne, Léon, Linxe, Lit-et-Mixe, Messanges, Mézos, Mimizan, Moliets-et-Maâ, Mont-de-Marsan, Ondres, Parentis-en-Born, Sainte-Eulalie-en-Born, Saint-Julien-en-Born, Saint-Paul-lès-Dax, Saint-Pierre-du-Mont, Sanguinet, Seignosse, Soorts-Hossegor, Soustons, Tarnos, Vielle-Saint-Girons and Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains).
- In Lot et Garonne
Until September 5 in cities over 5,000 inhabitants (Agen, Marmande, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Le Passage-d’Agen, Nérac, Boé, Bon-Encontre, Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot, Tonneins and Foulayronnes).
- In Manche
In pedestrian streets, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Granville and Saint-Lô, as well as within the Mont-Saint-Michel, every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. until September 30.
- In Meurthe et Moselle
From 9 a.m. to midnight in cities over 5,000 inhabitants (Champigneulles, Essey-lès-Nancy, Frouard, Heillecourt, Jarville-la-Malgrange, Laneuveville-devant-Nancy, Laxou, Liverdun, Longwy, Ludres, Malzéville, Maxéville, Mont-Saint-Martin, Nancy, Pont-à-Mousson, Pulnoy, Saint-Max, Seichamps, Tomblaine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, Villers-lès-Nancy).
- In Morbihan
Between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. until September 30 in cities on the coast and agglomerations over 5,000 inhabitants, excluding natural spaces and beach.
- In Nord
In cities along the coast until September 16 (Bray-Dunes, Dunkerque, Ghyvelde, Grande-Synthe, Grand-Fort-Philippe, Gravelines, Leffrinckoucke, Loon-Plage and Zuydcoote). Beaches, parks and gardens are not subject to the obligation.
- In Oise
- In Orne
- In Pas-de-Calais
In some coast cities such as (Ambleteuse, Audinghen, Audresselles, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Le Portel, Neufchâtel-Hardelot, Wimereux, Wissant, Calais, Berck-sur-Mer, Camiers, Étaples, Merlimont, Touquet) until August 30.
- In Pyrénées-Atlantiques
From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Anglet, Bayonne, Biarritz, Guéthary, Hendaye and Saint-Jean-de-Luz until August 31.
- In Pyrénées-Orientales
In the entire department, excluding at the beach or in forests until August 29.
- In Savoie
Between 9 a.m. and 2 a.m. in the most-visited streets of four cities (Aix-les-Bains, Albertville, Chambéry and Chanaz) until August 30.
- In Seine-Maritime
In some areas of Etretat until August 31.
- In Somme
In Amiens and several cities along the coast (Ault, Boismont, Cayeux-sur-Mer, Favières, Fort-Mahon-Plage, Lanchères, Le Crotoy, Mers-les-Bains, Noyelles-sur-Mer, Pendé, Quend, Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont, Saint-Quentin-la-Motte-Croix-au-Bailly, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme and Woignarue) until August 23.
- In Tarn-et-Garonne
Everyday from 8 a.m. to midnight in Montauban, Castelsarrasin and Moissac until August 31, 2021.
- In Var
Facemask-wearing compulsory in 58 cities: Bagnols-en-Forêt, Bandol, Belgentier, Bormes-les-Mimosas, Callian, Canadel-sur-Mer, Cavalaire-sur-Mer, Carqueiranne, Cogolin, Collobrières, Cuers, Évenos, Fayence, Frèjus, Gassin, Grimaud, La-Môle, Hyères, La-Cadière-d'Azur, La-Crau, La-CroixValmer, La-Farlède, La-Garde, La-Garde-Freinet, La-Londe-les-Maures, La-Seyne-sur-Mer, LaValette-du-Var, Le-Beausset, Le-Castellet, Le-Plan-de-la-Tour, Le-Pradet, Le-Lavandou, Le-Revest-les-Eaux, Les-Adrets-de-l’Estérel, Mons, Montauroux, Ollioules, Pierrefeu-du-Var, Puget-sur-Argens, Ramatuelle, Rayol, Riboux, Roquebrune-sur-Argens, Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer, Sainte-Maxime, Saint-Paul-en-Forêt, Saint-Raphaël, Saint-Tropez, Sanary-sur-Mer, Seillans, Signes, Six-Fours-les-Plages, Solliès-Pont, Solliès-Toucas, Solliès-Ville, Tanneron, Toulon, Tourettes
- In Vendée
In some cities( L’Aiguillon-sur-Mer, Barbâtre, La Barre-de-Monts, Beauvoir-sur-Mer, Bouin, Brem-sur-Mer, Brétignolles-sur-Mer, L’Épine, La Faute-sur-Mer, La Guérinière, L’Ile-d’Yeu, Jard-sur-Mer, Longeville-sur-Mer, Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile, Notre-Dame-de-Monts, Les Sables-d’Olonne, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, Saint-Jean-de-Monts, Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard, Talmont-Saint-Hilaire and La Tranche-sur-Mer) until August 18, excluding beaches, natural areas and forests.
- In Vienne
From 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. in three streets of Poitiers until August 31.
