Europe 1 with AFP 12:12 p.m., November 6, 2021, modified at 12:16 p.m., November 6, 2021

While an epidemic resumption is confirmed and Emmanuel Macron will address the French on Tuesday at 8 p.m., the Prime Minister announced that the wearing of a mask and the health pass will become compulsory in ski resorts if the incidence rate national exceeds 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Wearing a mask will be compulsory in the queues for ski lifts in ski resorts and the health pass will also become so if the national incidence rate exceeds 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, Jean Castex announced on Saturday during a travel to Haute-Savoie.

This health protocol is intended according to the Prime Minister to "guarantee" the holding of a "dignified season", after a last very difficult winter for the mountain sector with the closure of ski lifts because of the Covid epidemic. 19.

A reinforced protocol in the stations

While the new ski season is gradually starting, the government has therefore chosen the option of a reinforced protocol for wearing the mask in the cable cars and outdoors in the queues and mixing places.

Distancing will also be imposed in the queues of the lifts, "with random checks".

Once installed on the chairlift, the mask can be removed in the open air.

This protocol should come into force early next week, Secretary of State for Tourism Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne told AFP.

The threshold set at 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

The sanitary pass is not required at this stage to climb to the top of the slopes. But it could become so if the health situation continues to deteriorate, while the epidemic has experienced a definite resurgence in recent weeks. The executive decided to set the trigger threshold where the pass will become mandatory, at an incidence rate of 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants at the national level. Because "you welcome a public come from everywhere", indicated Jean Castex to elected officials and local actors during a meeting in Grand-Bornand.

"It's a good balance, given what the vaccination rates are otherwise," Castex told AFP.

"It guarantees the health safety of skiers and the accomplishment of the activity" of the stations, he added, before a speech at the 88th congress of mayors of Haute-Savoie in La Roche-sur-Foron.

"A strong, clear and clear signal"

In recent days, the incidence rate has risen above the bar of 60 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in France.

In addition, 76.1% of the population received at least one dose of vaccine.

"Security and attractiveness can only go hand in hand. Even Switzerland has put the pass. The epidemic is not over, we must make this conciliation," insisted Mr. Castex to local elected officials.

Among the elected, Éric Fournier, mayor of Chamonix and regional councilor close to Laurent Wauquiez (LR), welcomed a "strong, clear and clear signal".

"That's the right answer. Thank you," he added.