‘Libertines’ spark outbreak at French naturist resort

AT LEAST 150 holidaymakers at a French naturist resort have tested positive for Covid-19, making it one of the country’s most “worrying” clusters of infections, health authorities have said.

Holidaymakers say the Cap d’agde resort on the Mediterranean coast is frequented by “libertines and swingers” who ignore social distancing rules.

One visitor said: “In the evening, we’re all huddled together, which means barrier gestures or physical distancing are impossible. Frankly, this is a place where you come to meet people. No one comes here to play cards.”

The local newspaper described the resort as a “temple of libertinism”.

However, a spokesman for its management said: “Our customers are disciplined and have respected health rules and barrier gestures. I don’t think you can say people have been more careless here than anywhere else.”

The rate of infection among naturists at the Cap d’agde resort is four times higher than in the local village, according to the regional health authority.

Face masks are now mandatory and a number of bars and night clubs have been closed in the fenced-off Village Naturiste, which attracts about 35,000 visitors each summer.

The health authority has issued a warning for the resort, saying the number of infections was “very worrying”.

Daily infection numbers in France have hit another post-lockdown record with nearly 4,900 cases reported over 24 hours on Sunday.

It is the highest daily number since May and has heightened fears of a second wave as families return to French cities after summer holidays.

Olivier Véran, the health minister, said it was mainly 20- to 40-year-olds but cases were rising among older people, too. France has reported more than 30,000 coronavirus deaths, Europe’s third highest toll after the UK and Italy.