France To Cut Down On Mandatory Face Masks In Some Schools

France has announced that it plans to scale back the use of mandatory masking in some primary schools due to the case rates of COVID-19.

As reported by Reuters, “Pupils will from Oct. 4 no longer have to wear protective face masks in French primary schools in areas with a low COVID-19 infection rate, according to a government decree released on Thursday.”

Paris and its surrounding suburbs are not included in the 47 areas where the masking will stop, according to health ministry information, per the outlet.

“Areas where masks will cease to be mandatory in primary schools must have fewer than 50 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 citizens for five consecutive days,” the outlet added.

The news comes a day after government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said that the country was planning to prolong its state of emergency to next summer.

Reuters reported:

“What we will propose to the parliament is to maintain for several more months, until the summer, the possibility of using it,” Attal told reporters after a cabinet when asked about the state of emergency and use of a health pass to gain access to venues such as restaurants, bars and cinemas.

France has already implemented a vaccine passport program in the nation.

As The Daily Wire reported in August, “Video posted on social media showed Paris police patrolling the city asking people for proof of their vaccination status. The footage shows police officers walking through tables of diners outside, approaching seated diners, and asking them to produce their Covid-19 health passes.”

“A vaccination card or negative COVID-19 test is now required for cafes, restaurants, long-distance travel, and non-emergency treatment at a hospital in France. However, the new vaccine mandate was reportedly ignored by many restaurants on Monday. The health passes were already mandatory for movie theaters, concert halls, sports arenas, large theme parks, and other large-capacity venues,” The Daily Wire added.

The measures sparked protests across Paris and other major cities in France as people pushed back against the health passes, with some holding signs that said “Our freedoms are dying” and “Vaccine: Don’t touch our kids.”

The topic of forced mask-wearing in schools has been one of contention in the United States as some parents want to be able to make the decision regarding whether or not their child should wear a mask throughout the entire school day.

Governors like Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Greg Abbott (R-TX) have pushed to ban mask mandates in schools, but have been met with legal challenges to their efforts.

As The Daily Wire reported earlier this month, DeSantis “scored a legal win in his fight to ban mask mandates for children in schools across the state, instead allowing parents to decide what’s best for their kids.”

As The Daily Wire reported:

After the DeSantis administration filed an emergency motion asking an appeals court to reinstate a stay on his order to ban the mandates, the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee granted the stay Friday.

“1st District Court of Appeals just granted the State of Florida’s request to reinstate the stay — meaning, the rule requiring ALL Florida school districts to protect parents’ rights to make choices about masking kids is BACK in effect!” posted Christina Pushaw, a spokeswoman for Gov. DeSantis.

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