Antoine Flahault, epidemiologist, believes that “suspending the vaccine pass can be agreed” but not “lifting the mask”

Epidemiologist Antoine Flahault estimated Thursday March 3 on franceinfo that “suspend the vaccination pass [le 14 mars] can get along”because of the vaccination rate achieved in France, but that “lifting the mask in closed places while the virus is still circulating strongly leaves people at risk more exposed to serious and severe forms of Covid-19”.

“It is in all closed, poorly ventilated places, which receive the public, that we become contaminated. We are still very high in the incidence rate today”explains the epidemiologist. “To say that it will not be necessary to wear the mask when the virus will circulate little, I hear it very well.assures Antoine Flahault. But to say that it will be March 14 is a bit hasty, I doubt that by this date the circulation of the virus will be so low that there are no longer many risks.

He deplores a risk of seeing people who are immunocompromised or with comorbidities “to tell themselves, when they enter a classroom or an open space, that they will take very high risks because no one will protect them”. “Wearing a mask is protecting yourself, but also a gesture of solidarity for vulnerable people”adds the epidemiologist.

“We are going to recommend that these people almost self-contain, to wear an FFP2 mask”with, according to Antoine Flahault, for whom it risks being “stigmatizing”.