France’s Face Mask Law is Official as New Covid-19 Cases Spike

Hotspot in Brittany

France’s Brittany region has seen a surge in the reproduction rate of the novel Covid-19 virus for the past week.

Brittany is a popular tourist destination for domestic and international travelers.

Based on government data, the latest indicators point to signs that the transmission of the Covid-19 virus is once again picking up steam.

On July 16, the French government pushed ahead plans to make wearing face masks compulsory in enclosed public spaces amid rising new Covid-19 infections.

New Covid-19 cases have particularly emerged in western and southern France which were two regions that had been relatively spared during the peak of the outbreak between March and May.

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According to data released on Friday, the disease’s reproduction rate, known as the R0, in Brittany had risen from 0.92 to 2.62 between July 10 and July 14.

The number is one of several indicators authorities are watching when deciding on whether to reimpose tougher restrictions after ending the country’s lockdown in May.

A reproduction rate of 2.62 means that each Covid-19 infected person is, on average, passing the disease on to between two and three other people.

A rate of less than one is needed to gradually contain the disease.

“It’s a worrying number because it means the epidemic is taking off again,” Eric Caumes, an infectious disease specialist at the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris, told BFM TV.

The disease has killed more than 30,000 people in France.

While it has been under control with fatalities and the number of people in intensive care falling, daily cases have increased ahead of the summer holiday season.

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