Les Contamines (France) (AFP)

"If everyone walks around in masks, you can imagine psychosis!" : in the Haute-Savoie village of Contamines-Montjoie, traders and residents are trying to reassure tourists after the announcement of five cases of coronavirus among British people who have stayed in the resort.

"We have had a lot of calls since this morning," said Annick Roger, director of the tourist office. "There have already been a few cancellations, people are panicking a bit, wondering where the infected people could have gone, that's normal ..."

"Some tourists are already turning around on the highway. It's a shame it is falling now." On the first day of the February holidays, and especially in the Parisian area, traders like Pascal Haye, the manager of a supermarket, regret the consequences of this discovery.

In this village of 1,200 inhabitants located near Mont Blanc, and invaded by thousands of tourists in the middle of the ski season, there are no signs that eleven people, all of British nationality, were hastily evacuated at night from Friday to Saturday and hospitalized.

Five of them, including a child, tested positive for the new coronavirus after one of their compatriots returning from Singapore stayed in the same chalet from 24 to 28 January.

No sanitary cordon, even in the chalet area where they stayed. No masks on the faces either, except skiing.

Some people find the news improbable: "An Englishman back from Singapore who goes through the Contamines, it's still funny", smiles Franck Beretta, while loading helmets and ski boots in his car trunk.

Others do not believe their ears: "I have to go to China for work, and I postponed my trip but from there to go get the virus during our ski vacation, there's no need to go far away! "exclaims Olivier Campion, holidaymaker.

- Masks wanted -

Eric Paris, the village pharmacist, has had "many requests for masks", but refuses to distribute them. "It's been 14 days, the incubation period has passed. If all the people are walking around in masks, can you imagine psychosis?"

"I saw with the regional health agencies, the town hall, there is no order. All the people who had to be extracted from Contamines were it", he underlines, insisting: "this n "It is not because we have had a stiffness after a day of skiing that we have the coronavirus".

In shops, posters remind people of the gestures and reflexes to adopt in case of doubt, as well as a special Contamines toll-free number set up.

The village school, attended by the contaminated 9-year-old British child, will be closed next week for screening.

At the restaurant Les Airelles, priority to tourism and relaxation: "the poor, they come from Paris, and we don't want to panic them with that. In addition, Les Contamines, the name of the village, you see ...." , laments Delphine Wattablet, the owner of the place.

On the village square, Alun Price, a Welshman spends his last day of vacation before returning to the United Kingdom. "I'm almost happy to leave," he laughs. "As if there were not enough problems with the English and Brexit!"

Others, like Catherine Marjou, have just put their bags down and learned the news on the road on the radio: "We are a little afraid, she admits. If the first infected patient wandered everywhere, in the bus, we quickly make films ... Finally, we will try not to think about it too much. "

"Everyone has only been talking about this since this morning. The ski school has had cancellations," said Marie-Jeanne, a ski hire company. The public information meeting scheduled for the evening? She doubts that she will go: "Bring people together in a room ... not sure it's the best idea".

"Me, I don't care, it won't change my vacation program," says Laurent Geneslay, a Parisian tourist, ready "to wear a protective mask if it can help have fewer people in the cable cars! "

© 2020 AFP