Masks become compulsory in Paris as French coronavirus cases soar
Masks become compulsory throughout Paris as France admits coronavirus R rate is likely to be as high as 1.4
By Chris Pleasance for MailOnline
Published: 06:04 EDT, 27 August 2020 | Updated: 06:12 EDT, 27 August 2020
Face masks will become compulsory throughout Paris as the city emerged as a hotbed of coronavirus contagion that has sent cases in France soaring.
Prime Minister Jean Castex revealed that Paris and the Ile-de-France region are at the centre of a new outbreak that saw 5,429 cases logged on Wednesday – the highest total since March, and the third-highest ever.
France’s R number is now 1.4, Castex told a news briefing, well above the crucial 1 figure needed to keep the curve of infection level.
‘The virus is spreading all over the country,’ he said.
‘The spread of the epidemic can be exponential if we do not react quickly,’ Castex told reporters.
Grandparents are being told not to pick up their grandchildren from school as the government is worried about hospitals being overwhelmed.
The government is hoping to avoid a new nationwide lockdown, but the country has been facing a resurgence of new COVID-19 infections since July, with an acceleration from mid-August.
The health ministry on Wednesday reported 5,429 new daily infections, a new post-lockdown high and a level of new infections not seen since the height of the epidemic in early April.
The government is due to unveil details of the post-pandemic rescue plan to haul the 2.3 trillion euro economy out of its deepest slump since World War Two on Sept. 3.
