The French government is recommending people wear surgical masks in public because they offer better protection from COVID-19 transmission, than other types of face coverings. 

The ruling says that only three types of masks will be recommended for use in public settings: disposable surgical masks, FFP2 (Filtering Face Piece, also known as KN95, N95 and P2 in other parts of the world) coverings and fabric masks that are made to category 1 standards (3 µm particle filtration > 98,4 percent). 
 

Since making it mandatory to wear a face mask in public last year, the French government has until now not made recommendations about the specific type of mask that people should wear. 

This ruling is not law, but rather strong guidance from the health secretary based on a recommendation from the public health agency. 

"The recommendation that I make to the French people is to no longer use fabric masks," said Olivier Veran. 

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Veran said the aim of the measure was to ensure "better individual protection, but above all to increase collective protection by ensuring a maximum of people are wearing a mask that filters enough."

Despite this move, the World Health Organization (WHO) says fabric face coverings can be fully effective.

An opinion shared by the French Academy of Medicine, which harshly criticized the government's recommendation, saying there is a lack of scientific proof that homemade masks do not offer sufficient protection if worn properly. 

 

This new measure needs to get the seal of approval from unions, because people at workplaces and in offices could now be asked by their managers to wear medical masks. 

Nose-and-mouth coverings are compulsory in indoor and outdoor public places in France and there is a potential $160 fine for non-compliance. But despite the new recommendations, the French authorities admit it will be difficult to enforce. 

A spokesperson for prime minister Jean Castex said: "I don't imagine the police are going to be asking people the protection level of their mask."

French ministers are wary of the spread of new, more contagious variants of COVID-19 prevalent in other countries. The government thinks more use of closer-fitting, medical-standard face masks could help slow down the rates of transmission. 

France has reported more than 73,000 COVID-19-related deaths since the pandemic began. 

The government is also seriously considering reimposing another national lockdown but wants to first assess any impact from the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew currently in place.