France is speeding up plans to make it mandatory to wear face masks in enclosed public spaces in a bid to avoid flare-ups of COVID-19 cases.
President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that mask-wearing would be mandatory in places such as shops from 1 August, citing signs that the disease was “coming back a bit.”
On Thursday, Prime Minister Jean Castex said the order would take effect next week.
Currently, citizens are only required to wear face masks in public transport and in public spaces where social distancing is not possible.
“We were considering implementing (this measure) on 1 August,” Reuters quotes Castex. “I have heard and understood that this deadline appeared late or raised some questions, so the decree will come into force next week.”
By Thursday afternoon, France had reported 210,568 COVID-19 infections and 30,123 deaths, according to figures from the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.
