France Imposes Indoor Masking for Ages 6+ to Avoid School Shutdowns

Previously required masks for those over age 11

A 6-year-old boy poses with a mask in Paris, France, on Nov. 8, 2020. Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images

The French government has announced it will require everyone aged six and older to wear masks in indoor areas amid the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, which marks the fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Previously, children aged 11 and above were required to wear masks but the government has lowered the age to avoid shutting down schools. Classes resumed on Monday.