Ski Resorts: What Is The Health Protocol For Winter 2021-2022?

To fight against the spread of Covid-19, the government has issued certain health rules that must be followed in ski resorts for the winter of 2021-2022. We suggest you discover what is the sanitary protocol to apply during ski holidays or your days on the slopes.

The compulsory health pass from 12 years old

Due to the deterioration of the epidemic situation in France, the health pass is mandatory in the ski resorts this winter.

The health pass is officially required since December 4, 2021 for all people over 12 years and 2 months, including access to ski lifts and high altitude restaurants.

So in order to access the ski slopes, you will need to be vaccinated, have had the Covid-19 for less than 6 months or have a very recent negative test, less than 24 hours old.

The obligation to be vaccinated also concerns the staff of ski resorts.

You will be asked to present your pass in all places receiving the public, such as restaurants, bars, swimming pools and saunas but also to attend and participate in certain events.

This obligation is in addition to other measures already in place in the resorts, such as wearing a mask in certain enclosed or crowded places.

Wearing a mask in crowded places

Unlike last year, lifts have been allowed to open in ski resorts for the winter of 2021-2022. However, the health protocol includes a few precautions that must be followed to limit the outbreak of Covid-19 cases.

For example, all skiers aged 11 and over must wear masks on the lifts.

More generally, the wearing of masks is mandatory in all enclosed public places, including those subject to the health pass requirement.

Wearing a mask is compulsory for everyone from 11 years old and advised from 6 years old. You can choose between a surgical mask, a category 1 fabric mask or certain approved filtering neckbands.

In practice, you must wear a mask :
- in shops
- in restaurants
- in markets, Christmas markets and flea markets
- in queues, even outside (including ski lift queues)
- on board the ski lifts and shuttle buses.

On the other hand, wearing a mask is not mandatory on the slopes when skiing downhill, ski touring and Nordic skiing.

Controls have been put in place

Domaines Skiables de France, an organization that represents the operators of 250 French ski resorts, has announced that it has already put in place controls.

The modalities of these controls vary from one resort to another. But it should be noted that systematic checks of the health pass are generally carried out at the various sales points for ski passes.

Other more random checks may also be carried out in the lift queues or at the start of ski lessons.

Finally, please note that the obligation of a health pass in the resorts does not exempt from barrier gestures.

It is necessary to respect the distance in the queues, indoors and outdoors, and in the points of sale.

It is necessary to continue to use the Hydroalcoholic gel made available in the ski resorts, especially in the points of sale and the buildings.

You can find the different sanitary measures in force during the winter 2021-2022 on the France Montagnes website (link below).