Children must wear a mask in public establishments, transport and markets of France from 6 years of age and not 11, as it has been until now, according to this Saturday the Official Gazette.
Only places where they practice artistic or sports activities will be excluded from the tax.
In France, minors between the ages of 12 and 17 can be vaccinated against the coronavirus and, since this month, voluntary injection has also been opened to minors between the ages of 5 and 11, although vaccination levels are very weak.
The rule adds to the restrictions announced by the French Government this week to stop the expansion of the coronavirus, except that this change in the age of minors had not been publicly communicated by the authorities.
The Official Gazette of this Saturday also includes the announcements that the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, and the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, advanced in a press conference last Monday, such as the prohibition of eating and drinking in public transport, including long distance, and the limitation of outdoor and indoor capacity.
The measure on the use of a mask in minors occurs two days before the return to classrooms after school holidays, when the Ministry of Education has also asked schools and institutes to prioritize physical activity outdoors whenever possible .
Education has also requested that school trips and educational outings be postponed, both within the country and abroad, and that festive events such as the distribution of the traditional “galette des rois” (the equivalent of the roscón de reyes) be canceled.
This Friday, France once again exceeded the number of positive cases confirmed in 24 hours with 232,200 infections and a cumulative incidence rate in seven days of more than 1,200 positives per 100,000 inhabitants, although in regions such as Paris it exceeds 2,200.
According to data from the Public Health agency, the incidence in children under nine was 483 the week of December 20 (latest data available) and 828 between 10 and 19 years. The group with the highest incidence is that of 20-29 years, where it reaches 1,622 positives per 100,000 people.
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