top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

Covid-19: Public will have to wear masks in Nice

Wearing a cloth mask is going to become obligatory in Alpes-Maritimes capital Nice, according to the city’s mayor.

Mayor Christian Estrosi said: “All residents are soon going to receive a mask that will be re-useable for a month.”

The masks will be made of cloth, will meet recommended norms, and are set to be distributed in about 10 days’ time, he said, speaking at an online press conference with the department’s prefect and the public prosecutor.

Mr Estrosi did not clarify how they would be distributed, but said there will be a further announcement in two days’ time.

He said wearing them outside would be obligatory, as everyone would have been supplied with one.

The measures came as the prefect, Bernard Gonzalez, said that too many people had ignored the confinement rules over the weekend. Some people, including “whole families” had seemed to take pleasure in “playing hide-and-seek” with the police.

He said there were hundreds of fines and some people have now been placed in police custody.

Some people had resisted police checks and some had even been violent towards the police, said Procureur de la République Xavier Bonhomme.

After four offences, it becomes a serious délit crime, punishable by six months in prison, to break the rules, he clarified.

Further curfew restrictions – currently 23.00 to 5.00 – are also expected in the city.

It will be reduced to 20.00 in certain specific districts of the centre and east of the city (including Notre-Dame, Trachel and Saint-Charles).

Meanwhile the right to go out for exercise will be reduced in Nice to set hours – 6.00 to 12.00 or 18.00 to 20.00, the mayor said.

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France