Covid France: Masks not required in places where health pass is in use

Wearing a mask will no longer be necessary in public places where a health pass (pass sanitaire) is required to enter, Health Minister Olivier Véran confirmed today (July 20).

The ruling appeared in an official decree published today and will come into effect from tomorrow (July 21).

It states that wearing a mask in public places subject to health pass restrictions will not be necessary, unless there is a specific and justified ruling in place by the local authorities or the establishment’s owners.

From tomorrow (July 21), people entering public places with over 50 people, such as cinemas, theatres, indoor sports facilities and places of worship, will be required to present a ‘health pass’, which means proof of their Covid-19 status.

This measure is set to be extended to restaurants, cafes, bars, long-distance transport services, etc., from the beginning of August, dependent on parliamentary backing.

Read more about which places will demand a health pass from tomorrow in our article here: Explained: What changes with France’s Covid health pass on July 21

Staff working in public places subject to health pass restrictions will still be required to wear masks.

Some departments in France, such as Pyrénées-Orientales and Pas-de-Calais, recently reintroduced a rule stating that masks must be worn in certain outdoor areas.

What is the health pass (pass sanitaire)?

The health pass in itself is not a separate physical document.

It is the way France refers to proof of your Covid-19 status and this can be achieved with any of the following:

• A Covid-19 test (rapid antigen or PCR) showing a negative result and taken within the past 48 hours

• A Covid-19 vaccination certificate showing full vaccination

• A Covid-19 test (rapid antigen or PCR) showing a positive Covid-19 result, taken between 11 days and six months prior

These documents can be shown in paper format, digitally, or through the phone application TousAntiCovid.