The glamorous French Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez is requiring face masks outdoors starting Saturday, threatening to sober the mood in a place renowned for high-end, free-wheeling summer beach parties.
More cities and towns, especially in tourist areas, are imposing mask requirements as France's coronavirus infections creep up again, with more than 2,000 new cases reported on Friday the biggest single-day rise since May.
The uptick corresponds with France's summer holidays, when vacationers head off in droves, often to seashores, for festive gatherings with family and friends.
As of Saturday, wearing a mask outdoors is also compulsory in some crowded parts