France to drop indoor mask mandate as of Feb. 28: Health minister

By Cindi Cook

PARIS (AA) - People in France, who have valid proof of vaccination, will no longer be required to wear masks indoors, except for on trains and planes, as of Feb. 28, the country’s health minister announced on Friday.

“In a context where the epidemic pressure is greatly reduced, and as we have already done before this wave, the vaccine pass allows to remove the obligation to wear a mask in establishments open to the public from February 28,” Olivier Veran said.

The announcement came as the number of COVID-19 cases is falling throughout the country.

Nearly 53 million people in France have received a full dose of vaccination.

The government has also relaxed the screening system for those who have made contact with a person testing positive. Those considered a “contact person” will only have to take a single test two days after having been notified that they are a contact person instead of taking three tests on the first, second, and fourth days.

France’s primary schools will also lift restrictions, with Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer also announcing large-scale changes to the health protocols.

“The hardest part is clearly behind us,” he said, as he delineated the lifting of restrictions for primary students age six and under.

Wearing a mask outside will no longer be necessary but for students over the age of six as well as all staff wearing one indoors will still be compulsory.

Maintaining social distancing at all times too should be adhered to for safety’s sake, stressed the minister.

France’s colleges and high schools will remain under the same protocols until another announcement is made, Blanquer added.