A first on the national territory. The Versailles administrative court suspended, on Wednesday January 12, the prefectural decree making it compulsory to wear a mask outdoors in the Yvelines department.
Seized by individuals, the summary judge considered that this “Obligation might be imposed only on condition that the local epidemiological situation justifies it and that the wearing of the mask is limited to places and at times of heavy traffic”, according to a statement released at the end of the day. He therefore considered that the measure affected “Excessive, disproportionate and inappropriate interference (…) to individual freedom “.
Risk of contamination “lower in the open air”
If the risk of contamination is “Weaker in the open air”, however, the magistrate agreed that he was not ” excluded (…) when there is a high concentration of people ” and that the prefect might “Delimit areas where the mask must be worn outdoors” in case of high density.
The prefecture of Yvelines responded “Take note of the decision of the administrative court of Versailles” and “Study it to adapt the obligation to wear a mask outdoors”, especially in terms of zones and timetables. A new decree should therefore be drafted soon.