PARIS (Reuters) – A naturist station on France’s Mediterranean coast noticed a sharp increase in coronavirus infections and nudists were ordered to wear at least one mask and practice social estating, fitness officials said Monday.
The tests had shown an infection rate of 30% among others who had visited the village of Cap d’Agde, which promises to be a village of naturists and libertines, said the fitness authority of the Occitanie region.
This is more than 4 times higher than the 7% rate for others in the region who had not visited the center, the authority added.
Officials at the station, which is about 60 km (40 miles) from the Montpellier coast, did not respond to calls.
Pierre Ricordeau, general manager of the fitness authority, said social estating had not had enough reputation at the center.
“There are infections everywhere, adding among other people who are not libertines. The message is the same for everyone: wear a mask, wash your hands and practice social estigning, whether libertine or non-libertine,” Ricordeau said.
After testing, the local government prefect ordered others to wear masks at the camp, banned meetings of more than 10 people there, and eliminated nightclub schedule exemptions.
He also asked anyone who was making plans to go to the village to be delayed.
The Cap d’Agde, in a huge modernist circular construction near the beach, is one of the largest and oldest naturist resorts in France and attracts tens of thousands of visitors a day in summer.
On Sunday, France reported nearly 5,000 new coronavirus infections, a new post-lockout record.
Reporting through Geert De Clercq; Edited by Andrew Heavens
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