It is compulsory to cover your nose and mouth with a mask, scarf or bandana on public transport and for activities that are open to the public (shops, counters, recycling centres, fairs and exhibitions, markets).

Cultural, sports and leisure activities cannot accommodate the public if the conditions of wearing a mask and/or distancing are not respected.

Wearing a mask is also compulsory for gatherings of more than 20 people during which the distance of two meters cannot be respected.

In some sectors, these provisions may even be more restrictive.

Non-compliance with the wearing of a mask and/or seating distance is an offence punishable by a fine.

Who doesn't need to wear the mask?

Children under 6 years of age are not obliged to wear a mask. No child needs to wear the mask when participating in formal or non-formal educational activities.

Persons with special needs, who, because of their disability, cannot wear a mask, do not fall under this obligation, provided that they put other sanitary measures in place to prevent the spread of the virus. A medical certificate will attest to the impossibility of wearing the mask.

Public transport drivers do not need to wear the mask when the distance between them and users is at least two metres or when they are separated by a panel.

When an activity cannot be performed because of the mask (e.g. facial care), other sanitary measures must be put in place to avoid contagion. Thus, the professional may wear a visor in combination with the mask or wear an FFP2 mask when taking care of the client.

Religious, cultural and sports actors are also exempted from wearing masks while carrying out their activities.

Can plastic visors replace masks?

No, plastic visors are used to protect the eyes, but not the nose or mouth. Therefore, a visor alone cannot provide efficient protection against coronavirus.

How to handle masks?

Disposable masks distributed to residents and cross-border workers cannot be washed and have to be disposed of in a waste bin after having worn them for a maximum of 8 hours. The production and expiry dates marked on the boxes are printed according to the international format: year/month/day.

Handmade cloth masks, scarves or bandanas may on the other hand be worn more often, as long as they are washed at 60 degrees every day after use.

In order to get more information about the correct use of masks, please read these recommendations. For wearing a mask is merely a complementary means to barrier gestures which, although reducing the dissemination of droplets carrying the virus, can also present an additional risk of infection when not handled properly. This is why the World Health Organization considers that the widespread use of masks in the whole population is only justified if other preventive measures are impossible or difficult to implement.

#NotWithoutMyMask

Is having a beard compatible with wearing a mask?

In any case, the mask must fit tightly on the face, otherwise its effectiveness is not guaranteed. The beard must be clean and tied up like hair if it is long. This applies to surgical or crafted (fabric) masks.

On the other hand, to guarantee the airtightness of the FFP2 mask - used by healthcare professionals - the beard must not protrude beyond the outlines of the mask.