Covid: masks return for Tour de France after cyclists test positive

Masks and other protection measures are now required for anyone involved in the Tour de France after several riders tested positive for Covid in the past few days. 

Anyone in contact with the riders of the famous race - including organisers, journalists, and other guests - must now wear a mask and take other measures to protect the riders and the members of the cycling teams, said organisers the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO).

It comes after British rider Tom Pidcock and Spanish rider Juan Aysuo tested positive for Covid and were forced to abandon the race.

Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar (Mr Aysuo’s teammate and yellow jersey wearer) said he had contracted Covid in mid-June, while Tour de France 2018 winner, Welsh rider Geraint Thomas, said he was continuing to race despite suffering from “light symptoms”.

Another rider, Belgian Remco Evenepoel, has even started wearing a mask while riding because, he says, journalists around him have not been wearing one.

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The Tour de France is now well underway, with Mr Pogacar winning the most recent stage (the 14th), Plateau de Beille on July 14, finishing more than a minute ahead of Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard. The Slovenian is also ahead in the general classification, with Vingegaard just over three minutes behind.

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The Tour is set to end in Nice on July 21. It is not ending on the Champs-Elysée this year (in contrast to its usual finish) in order to avoid clashing with the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26.

What is the current Covid situation in France?

France has been experiencing a general rise in Covid nationwide over the past few months - with the new ‘FLiRT’ variant thought to be behind the spike in cases (although Santé publique France has now said that cases are stabilising and even dropping slightly).

The FLiRT variant is now dominant globally, especially in the United States and Australia. This strain emerged from the JN.1 subvariant, and other strains in the same ‘family’ include KP.3 and KW.1.1. 

In an update dated July 12, 2024, SPF reiterated: “Numerous variants of SARS-CoV-2 are circulating in France and new variants carrying mutations are regularly identified.”

However, in its most recent Covid-19 bulletin (July 10, 2024), SPF said that “indicators remain stable in hospitals” and that cases now appear to be dropping slightly, judging by official PCR test results from hospitals and testing labs, and used water analysis.

Up to July 10, the number of emergency hospital visits for suspected Covid were at 1,929 (0.6% of the total emergency visits, SPF said, the same as the percentage the week before). Of these, 715 were admitted to hospital for confirmed Covid (1.1% of total hospitalisations, down from 1.3% the week before).

‘Remain alert’

While the Institut Pasteur in France has said that “30-60% who carry the virus, especially young people, are asymptomatic,” people are still warned to remain alert to the symptoms of Covid in general.

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Vulnerable people - including the very young, elderly, pregnant; those with long-term conditions, or the immunocompromised - are warned to remain especially alert and to consult a doctor as soon as possible in case of symptoms. 

People are also reminded to keep Covid vaccinations and boosters up to date with vaccination still the best protection against infection and severe illness, says the Assurance maladie.