Emmanuel Macron’s dangerous infantilisation of the French

From St Tropez to La Rochelle to Deauville, there is a familiar sight this summer in many of France’s most popular coastal resorts. A year after the wearing of masks outside was made mandatory they are back, and French and foreign sunseekers are forced to muzzle under a broiling sun.

It was only a month ago that the government relaxed the rule on the wearing of masks outdoors, but that was before a rise in cases caused by the Delta variant. Most of the infected are the young and unvaccinated, hospitalisations are stable and deaths remain minimal: there were 11 in the last 24 hours, compared to ten last Saturday.

These facts were overlooked by the health minister, Olivier Véran, who earlier this week announced in Hancockesque tones that France is in the grip of a ‘grave’ fourth wave. Consequently many departments – mostly those popular with holidaymakers – have reintroduced the mask requirement and some have also reimposed curfews for bars and restaurants.