Paris, March 31 : The French Interior Ministry announced a health protocol for voting stations across the country during the upcoming presidential elections on April 10 and 24. According to the Ministry, the vaccine pass or a negative Covid-19 test result will not be required for those entering polling stations, reports Xinhua news agency. The access to the polling stations can be regulated but the entrance and exit must be separated, it said. The wearing of masks and social distancing rules will not be mandatory, but the wearing of masks is recommended for the elderly, the vulnerable and Covid positive individuals. Complimentary masks will be available at all polling stations, allowing voters and those participating in the organisation of the polling stations and voting procedures to choose whether or not to wear them, the ministry continued, adding that hand washing point or hydro-alcoholic gel will be also available to them. At the polling stations, voters wearing the masks can be asked to remove them briefly to proceed with the identification protocol, the ministry said. All equipment will be frequently cleaned and the polling stations will be regularly ventilated, 10 minutes every hour, or according to the indications of the CO2 sensors where equipped. For those participating in the organisation of the polling stations and voting procedures, self-test for Covid-19 will be available. Some 48.7 million French citizens have registered to vote in the elections. The first round of the 2022 French presidential election will be held on April 10 and if no candidate gets a majority of the vote, a runoff will be held between the top two candidates on April 24. Emmanuel Macron, who won the 2017 presidential election and whose first term lasts until May 13, announced on March 3 that he was seeking re-election to a second five-year term. There are a total of 12 candidates in the fray, including Macron; Marine Le Pen, President of the National Rally party; and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. /IANS