New Covid-19 Measures Affect French Ski Resorts
25th January 2022 | James Cove, La Rosiere, France
Last modified on January 28th, 2022
From this week a vaccination pass will be needed by everyone over 16. A negative test will not be enough. Cases continue to grow but ski resorts remain open. PlanetSKI reports from the slopes of La Rosiere in France.
The skiing experience here in the French Alps is near ‘normal’ in these Covid times.
There are the usual restrictions in place, but we are all used to them now – masks, social distancing, health passes and basic hygiene precautions.
The slopes are open, the sun is out and there is plenty of skiing to be had.
We detail the current entry requirements to France from the UK at the end of this article.
The rules once here in the French Alps are hardly onerous as long as you are vaccinated.
La Rosiere, France. Image © PlanetSKI
However the statistics in France make grim reading and it is easy to forget them in the bubble of a ski resort.
France has seen more than 360,000 daily cases – the highest recorded.
It currently has 3,767 cases of covid-19 per 100,000 people over a 7-day period.
A week ago it was 3,229.
That compares to 5,745 in Andorra.
It is 1,873 in Austria, 2,008 in Italy and 2,073 in Switzerland.
In the UK it is 969.
The Government in Paris has now extended the vaccination pass to anyone over 16.
In ski resorts it is needed to access ski lifts, including the free ones, but not magic carpets.
It is also needed for restaurants, including outdoor terraces, and most other locations.
These include bars, cafés, restaurants, gyms, leisure centres, cinemas, theatres, museums and large events.
It is also needed on long-distance trains if you are taking the train to ski resorts.
The authorities say that random checks will be carried out at the ski lift departure points, at the beginning of ski lessons and at the doors of mountain restaurants.
La Rosiere, France. Image © PlanetSKI
A health pass is required for anyone aged 12-years old to 15-years-old.
The health pass consists one of the following three health proofs:
- Vaccination, provided that a complete vaccination schedule is available
- A negative test (PCR or antigen tests) less than 24 hours old,
- The result of a positive RT-PCR test attesting to the recovery of Covid-19, at least 11 days old and less than 6 months old.
It can be either a paper or digital version.
The slopes remain fairly empty in La Rosiere, but it is a weekday in late January.
La Rosiere, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Once you are following all the rules the skiing experience here in La Rosiere, and other French resorts, remains fabulous.
Across the valley from La Rosiere it is Les Arcs and La Plagne where the same measures are being taken.
La Rosiere, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Further up the valley it is Tignes and Val d’Isere.
La Rosiere. Image © PlanetSKI
In short, if you intend to spend time in a French ski resort, you are going to need the vaccination pass if you want to do anything fun and have a more normal experience.
It is no price to pay at all to get back skiing or snowboarding again in our opinion at PlanetSKI.
Regular readers will know we are currently based over the border in Italy and we will be reporting later this week on the situation in Italy, where things are slightly different.
La Rosiere, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Entry requirement from the UK to France as detailed by the UK government:
If you’re planning to travel to France you should consult the French government guidance
From 14 January 2022, fully vaccinated (see ‘Vaccination status’ below) travellers from the UK must:
- Present a negative PCR or antigen test result taken within 24 hours pre-departure if aged 12 years and over.
- Provide a completed ‘sworn statement’ (déclaration sur l’honneur) form self-certifying you’re not suffering from symptoms associated with coronavirus and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight. This can be found on the French government’s website
From 14 January 2022, travellers who are not fully vaccinated will need to self-isolate on arrival in France for 10 days, subject to police checks.
You must also provide a negative PCR or antigen test result taken within 24 hours pre-departure if aged 12 years and over.
Full details can be found on www.uk.gov
We do our very best at PlanetSKI to ensure the information provided here is as complete and up-to-date as possible. However, please be aware that we assume no liability in this respect. Information provided by PlanetSKI should be checked with the official information provided by the authorities. The situation regarding travel warnings and local rules changes quickly.
Image © PlanetSKI
