With the ninth wave of Covid-19, should mandatory masks be reinstated in transport?

More than six months after the mask requirement was lifted on public transport, will it return to trains and buses? The Committee for Monitoring and Prediction of Health Risks (Covars), which is supposed to guide the government in managing the outbreaks, has recently been retained by the executive in order to move forward quickly.

As of Monday, November 28, nineteen scientists and patient advocates have already announced that they are working on a new opinion on the overall Covid-19 epidemic. The president of Covars, Bridget Otran, thus made the appointment “In about ten days”. This announcement will be published in the coming days. In turn, the Ministry of Health assured, on Thursday 1^Eh Dec. Seizure “I cheat regularly on many topics”Including Covid. “Therefore, Covars fully fulfills its protective role”, We added.

If the mask is strongly recommended in public transport, it is clear that very few people wear it. So far, the government has refused to reintroduce restrictions on the daily lives of the French, including during the eighth wave of Covid at the beginning of autumn. Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne was surprised by his insistence on Tuesday, November 29. “solemn call” To the people of France from the National Assembly: “Let’s respect the barrier gestures, wear a mask as soon as we are with fragile people or in crowded places like public transport. » Therefore, no obligation, but a reminder “responsibility” Everyone is facing the virus.

The “stake” of responsibility.

If this reminder is made today, the Prime Minister claims, it is certainly related to the epidemic revival of the ninth wave of Covid-19, which has been observed since mid-November, but also. “Because our hospital will still have extra pressure” Added to this is an extremely intense bronchiolitis epidemic and an early seasonal flu. The respiratory viruses responsible for these three outbreaks are indeed transmitted in the same way, and wearing a mask will slow their circulation.

For his part, Health Minister François Browne reiterated on France 5’s “C à vous” program on Thursday to do “bet” on the sense of responsibility of the French. “If you don’t want us to have more deaths, wear a mask. I believe in the good will of the French when we open up to them. “He assured her and added despite everything: “Depending on the evolution, we may have to take other measures. »