Covid 19 Update with CSF Languedoc
To help keep English-speaking residents and visitors to the region informed, CSF Languedoc have been sharing bulletins of extremely useful information.
Taken from verified government sources, this is a fountain of knowledge during these uncertain times – big thank you to CSF Languedoc!
Read their previous bulletins here.
Please note that the situation in France is subject to less frequent change. We will only issue Bulletins whenever there is new information of significance / substantial change.
We hope you find the content of this Bulletin useful and we wish you a safe and enjoyable summer.
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 traveling, 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 meter 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 meter 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 meter 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 practicing 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 practicing sport, but otherwise compulsory.
- Trains, stations – Wearing a mask is compulsory.
- Tram, 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 in 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)
This list is subject to constant revision and cannot be guaranteed to take in daily updates.
Please do look out for further information regarding anywhere you are likely to visit to be sure you are not breaking local byelaws
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
