France: Return of COVID-19 and Masks!

French officials called on Saturday for a return to wearing masks due to the significant rise in COVID-19 cases that required hospital care, although they did not reimpose previous restrictions. French officials framed the situation as a "call" and "recommendation," without reinstating past measures that could deter tourists, especially during the booming tourist season or reignite protests against the government, according to the Associated Press. Government spokesperson Olivia Grégoire stated that there are no plans to reinstate national regulations limiting or imposing conditions on indoor gatherings and other activities. She had previously mentioned in an interview with BFMTV: "The French are tired of restrictions. We are confident that people will act responsibly." In April, the French government lifted most COVID-19 related restrictions, and foreign tourists returned via land, sea, and air to the Mediterranean beaches, restaurants, and bars in France. Official French data indicate that nearly 1,000 COVID-19 patients are being hospitalized daily. COVID-19 infections are also increasing across Europe and the United States, but France has an exceptionally high rate of severe cases requiring hospital treatment, according to estimates from Our World in Data.