Source: Overseas Network
Overseas network on January 7 - The highly contagious Omilkeron mutation of the new crown virus led to a surge in the number of new crown infections in France, from January 4 to 6, France added 865419 new coronavirus patients in three days, with an average daily increase of nearly 300,000 cases. At the same time, more and more French people are choosing to wear high-protection FFP2 masks.
According to Le Parisien, FFP2 masks are considered more protective than surgical masks and are widely worn in some European countries. For example, in Germany, Italy, Austria, in the public transport system or some commercial places even mandatory wearing FFP2 masks. The Austrian government further announced on the 6th that it is fully mandatory to wear FFP2 masks outdoors to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus mutated in Ami kerong and avoid the implementation of further restrictive measures. But FFP2 masks have never really become popular in France, which is largely reserved for health workers. For the general population in France, the wearing of surgical masks is the most common. The rapid spread of the Omiljung variant of the new coronavirus is reversing this situation. On New Year's Eve, the French Scientific Committee recommended that people who have not completed covid-19 vaccination and those at high risk of COVID-19 infection wear FFP2 masks. French Prime Minister Jean Castet said on the 6th that it is waiting for the opinion of the French National Health Administration to determine whether to allocate FFP2 masks to public service personnel.
According to data from market research agency IRI, from December 28, 2021 to January 2, 2022, 1.5 million to 2 million FFP2 masks were sold in French hypermarkets. French Lefour Supermarket Group, which began selling FFP2 masks in January 2021, sold fewer than 100,000 masks a week before the fifth wave of the outbreak, but sold more than 300,000 last week and is expected to sell more than 600,000 this week. Philippe Bessette, president of the Confederation of Pharmaceutical Trade Unions of France, also confirmed that sales of FFP2 masks in pharmacies have been very strong in the last two weeks. In this case, supermarkets and pharmacies are increasing orders for FFP2 masks, both made in France and from Asian countries such as China.
French general practitioner Michael Rojoy said, "In the current epidemic situation, I can understand those who want to wear FFP2 masks. He believes that FFP2 masks are particularly suitable for people who are in frequent contact with the public, such as teachers, waiters, etc. Didier Le Petier, a member of the French High Council for Public Health, said wearing FFP2 masks provides better protection, but must be worn properly or it can backfire.
On the other hand, FFP2 masks sell for much more than surgical masks and are not affordable for all households. Christian Kurrell, president of the French Federation of Mask Manufacturers, explained that FFP2 masks cost five times as much to produce surgical masks, and FFP2 masks can be worn for eight hours, and surgical masks can be replaced after four hours. Most importantly, FFP2 masks can provide a high level of protection, reducing the number of COVID-19 infections and sick employees, and if a large number of employees are absent, it will bring higher costs to the country, businesses and society. (Overseas Network - Paris - Lujia)
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