France maintains ban on mass gatherings until end of October
This decision comes as “the coronavirus epidemic has deteriorated over the last few days,” Castex warned
The French government is extending a ban on mass gatherings of 5,000 people or more until Oct. 30, Prime Minister Jean Castex said Tuesday.
Local authorities can request an exemption to the ban, Castex explained while speaking after a visit to a hospital in the city of Montpellier, reports teh CNN.
This decision comes as "the coronavirus epidemic has deteriorated over the last few days," Castex warned.
"For the past two weeks, the epidemiological situation has been trending in the wrong direction," he added.
Deploring a "weaker vigilance, weaker discipline and weaker solidarity" from a part of the population, the prime minister also called to extend the obligation to wear masks in outdoor public spaces.
The decision on mass gatherings reverses a previous decision announced on Aug. 4 from the Culture Ministry, which said that cultural events in France of 5,000 people or more would be able to resume from Sept. 1.
