Go back to wearing a mask in the Pyrénées-Orientales. From Saturday July 17 until August 2, the mask will again be compulsory in public spaces, except at the beach and in large natural spaces, in all the municipalities of the Pyrénées-Orientales.

The prefecture made the announcement on July 16 due to a very sharp increase in covid cases in the department.

Disturbing growth of the Delta variant

Bordering Spain and very touristy, the department of Pyrénées-Orientales currently has the highest incidence rate in metropolitan France with 257 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This rate was only 12.7 on July 2 and 129.9 on July 12.

The return of the mask therefore aims to slow the spread of the covid and in particular of the Delta variant, which has been experiencing for a few days “worrying growth“, according to the prefect Etienne Stoskopf.”These measures may be supplemented depending on the evolution of health indicators and the strain on the hospital system.“, add the state services.

Read also: Holidays and covid: how to travel this summer with the health pass?

Tourism and density

On July 12, Occitanie was the first region in metropolitan France to exceed the alert threshold of 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the Regional Health Agency (ARS Occitanie), which had reported a “unprecedented speed“from the spread in the Pyrénées-Orientales with,”in one week, a fivefold increase in the incidence rate“, especially among youth.

“There is undoubtedly the tourist aspect on the coast and the density. There is also in part an impact linked to the proximity to Spain“, then explained the ARS.

New restrictions in Spain

And for good reason: neighboring Spain is facing a real explosion of cases due to the spread of the Delta variant, mainly among those under 30, still little vaccinated, with 1,508 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the last 14 days recorded on Wednesday at 20-29 year olds.

Faced with this outbreak, several Spanish regions have reinstated restrictions such as curfews, the closure of indoor nightclubs or limits for the opening hours of shops or meetings between people.