The thermal cures, closed for six months, will be able to reopen on May 19 with a gauge of 50% of spa guests.

In recent months, the spa sector has been alarmed on several occasions by the consequences of the two periods of closure, from March to June for the first confinement and then since the end of October.

The spa treatments, which have been closed for six months because of the Covid-19 pandemic, will be able to reopen on May 19 with a gauge of 50% of spa visitors, the organization representing the sector said on Monday.

"Following an arbitration by the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic today, the Ministry of the Economy and Finance informs us that the 113 thermal establishments, closed since October 25, are authorized to reopen from of Wednesday, May 19 with a gauge of 50% of curists ", announced the CNETh (National Council of thermal establishments) in a press release.

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Two-thirds drop in attendance 

In recent months, the spa sector has been alarmed on several occasions by the consequences of the two periods of closure (from March to June for the first confinement and then since the end of October). According to the CNETh, the thermal establishments, which represent 10,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect jobs, recorded 110 million euros in losses in 2020. Their attendance fell by nearly two thirds (580,000 spa visitors in 2019 against 200,000 in 2020).

However, they benefit from the solidarity fund and have been included on the list of activities for which fixed costs can be covered, like ski resorts. May 19 is the date scheduled for the second stage of the easing of the restriction measures announced last week (curfew pushed back to 9:00 p.m., limited reopening of shops, cinemas, museums, theaters and bar terraces).