Welcome to our twenty-second bulletin during the Coronavirus epidemic. In this issue we have information about:
- Increase in requirements to wear masks (outdoors and indoors), both general and in terms of local town-based decrees
- Further increase in Covid-19 cases in the Hérault – tightening of rules
Increase in requirements to wear masks
General requirements:
Administrations, banks, libraries Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Offices/workplaces Wearing a mask is compulsory in all shared spaces and offices. Only single-occupancy offices are exempt.
Elevators, halls of buildings Wearing a mask is recommended but is not compulsory, except in the event of a contrary local decision (as in Cannes).
Airplanes, airports Wearing a single-use surgical mask is compulsory. Wearing a fabric mask is prohibited inside airplanes but permitted in airports.
Bus, bus stops Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Marquees, tents and travelling temporary structures Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Hiking trails Wearing a mask is not compulsory.
Cinemas, theatres Wearing a mask is compulsory when walking around the establishment, but no longer when seated – provided that your seat is between two empty seats. Decisions to the contrary can be taken at local level.
Hairdressers Wearing a mask is compulsory for staff and customers.
Colleges Wearing a “general public” mask is compulsory for students and staff when the distance of one metre cannot be guaranteed.
Running Wearing a mask is not compulsory unless the route passes through areas where the mask is compulsory.
Carpool with strangers Wearing a mask is compulsory for the driver and passengers.
At home Wearing a mask is not compulsory but recommended if you are with people with a fragile state of health.
Elementary School Wearing a mask is not recommended for children and is mandatory for staff if they are less than one metre from students.
Kindergarten Wearing a mask is prohibited for students and is not compulsory for staff.
Companies Wearing a mask is compulsory in open spaces, canteens, meeting rooms, changing rooms, shared offices, etc. The only exception is the individual office.
Beauticians Wearing a mask is compulsory for staff and customers.
Churches, mosques, synagogues Wearing a mask is compulsory but it can be temporarily removed for the performance of rites that require it.
Hotels, pensions, hostels Wearing a mask is compulsory in spaces allowing groupings.
High schools Wearing a “general public” mask is compulsory for students and staff when the distance of one metre cannot be guaranteed.
Stores, supermarkets, shopping centres Wearing a mask is compulsory for staff and customers.
Markets Wearing a mask is becoming compulsory in many local markets but the measure has not yet been applied at national level, except for covered markets.
Metro, metro stations Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Monuments, museums Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Theme parks Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Zoological parks Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Parks, gardens, squares Wearing a mask is not compulsory, except in the event of a local decision to the contrary (as in Paris).
Covered car parks Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Beaches Wearing a mask is not compulsory, except in the event of a local decision to the contrary.
Restaurants, bars, cafes Wearing a mask is compulsory for staff and customers when moving around the establishment. Customers can remove their masks when they are at the table.
Streets, downtown Wearing a mask is becoming compulsory in many city centres, particularly in tourist and densely populated towns. Not yet applied at the national level, the measure has so far been implemented at the level of municipalities or departments.
Sports halls, swimming pools Wearing a mask is not compulsory when practising sport, but it is compulsory the rest of the time.
Stadiums, racetracks, arenas Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Taxis, VTC Wearing a mask is compulsory for the driver and passengers.
Sports grounds Wearing a mask is not compulsory when practising sport, but otherwise compulsory.
Trains, stations Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Trams, tram stops Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Transport and ferry terminals Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Universities Wearing a mask in teaching rooms is strongly recommended and mandatory when the rules of distancing cannot be observed.
Bicycles Wearing a mask is not compulsory, except in the event of a local decision to the contrary (as in Nantes).
Personal car Wearing a mask is not compulsory in your own vehicle as long as you are alone or with relatives. On the other hand, if a stranger gets into your car for carpooling, everyone must wear a mask.
Schools Wearing of masks now made compulsory for all pupils/students over the age of 11. Two washable masks will be made available for each student and can be collected from the schools before the school year starts.
Local town-based decrees
By prefectural decree, wearing a mask (except with a medical exemption) is compulsory from Monday August 17 for people over eleven years old at markets, brocante, vide grenier and festivals in the Hérault department.
In Occitanie, the following towns outside the Hérault had previously declared that wearing a mask in certain outdoor public spaces is a requirement (the detail of where varies between locations):
- Perpignan
- Leucate
- Argelès sur Mer
- Grau-du-Roi
- Nimes
- Bagnols sur Cèze
- Pont St. Esprit
- Carcassonne (inside the chateau)
Montpellier requires masks to be worn in most central streets – see map:
From Saturday August 22, the following places require the wearing of masks in any public area:
- Agde
- Balaruc-les-Bains
- Balaruc-les-Vieux
- Bouzigues
- Frontignan
- La Grande-Motte
- Marseillan
- Mauguio-Carnon
- Pérols
- Portiragnes
- Sérignan
- Sète
- Valras-Plage
- Vendres
- Vias
- Vic-la-Gardiole
- Mèze
- Palavas-les-Flots
- Béziers
- Villeneuve les Béziers
- Villeneuve-les-Maguelone
- Lattes
- Lunel
- Pézenas
This list is subject to constant revision and cannot be guaranteed to take in daily updates. Please look out for further information regarding anywhere you are likely to visit to be sure you are not breaking local byelaws.
Increased cases of Covid-19 in the Hérault – tightening of rules
There is a steep increase in Covid-19 cases in the Hérault, causing the department to be reclassified as being at high risk regarding circulation of the virus.
Both positive cases and hospital admissions are increasing at a rate that is cause for concern for the prefecture and the local Health Authority.
From Saturday August 22, wearing a mask will be compulsory in all the towns along the Hérault coast.
Public gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited and, on the coast, exemptions to open certain bars and restaurants until 2 am have been withdrawn .
Regarding Montpellier, discussions are still underway to develop a city-wide plan. Wearing a mask is currently compulsory only in the historic centre of Montpellier and in all the city’s markets.
Throughout the department, the prefecture promises to further strengthen screening.
Cancer Support France-Languedoc (CSF-L), Covid-19 response
CSF-L continues to support Anglophones touched by cancer in the Hérault and Aveyron, as well as extending support to people touched by Covid-19 during the crisis. In line with guidance, this is done at distance. Our Helpline can be reached on 04 67 44 87 06. (This is a voicemail service and we aim to return calls within 24 hours of a message being left).
If there is information you would like to share with others, please contact us using our email address: feedback.csflanguedoc@gmail.com
We hope you stay safe and well.
CSF-Languedoc
