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HYGIENE

France: 43 percent say no to daily shower

Over forty percent of French people don't take a shower every day, according to a new poll that took a closer look at French people's habits with all things water.

France: 43 percent say no to daily shower
Only 57 percent of the French shower every day. Photo: Shutterstock
It looks like there's an extra bit of ammo for anyone who (perhaps unfairly) thinks that French people are unhygienic.
 
A new poll carried out by BVA and published by regional paper Presse-Ocean has revealed that only 57 percent of the French shower every day. 
 
A further 24 percent responded that they shower once every two days, while 11 percent said they showered once every three days. That leaves 8 percent who shower once every four days (or less).
 
The study also found that the French spend an average of nine minutes each day in the shower (and an average of 25 minutes in the bath).
 
Poor personal hygiene, incidentally, is a serious issue in France. A report from last year found that it costs French companies a staggering €14.5 billion per year – with the majority of the lost cash due to the time employees spent mopping up after others or searching for clean toilets, instead of doing their jobs.
 

(Poor Hygiene cost the French economy €14.5 billion in 2013. Photo: AFP)
 
That lost time was the equivalent of 2.3 days per worker, each year, which once totalled up for the whole country is equivalent to a €10.1 billion loss, according to the study from the Centre for Economics and Business Research in combination with cleaning company Rentokil Initial.
 
“In France, we have a hard time admitting that poor hygiene is a factor linked to illness,” Virginia Mallet, head of hygiene company Initial France told French daily Le Figaro. “The simple act of washing one’s hands after going to the toilet is automatic in some countries, but in France we have always underestimated this act.”
 
Monday's study, meanwhile, wasn't just about hygiene – the survey also probed the French when it came to other kinds of water consumption.
 
Some 97 percent of the French have a washing machine, 91 percent of whom use it at least once a week. Nine percent, meanwhile, used it every day – a figure that was much higher among those while children in the house. Around 70 percent, meanwhile, have a dishwasher.
 
The poll also found that French people were rather conscious about wasting water, with 88 percent saying they turned off the tap while brushing their teeth, and 69 percent filling the sink with water when doing the dishes (rather than letting the tap run).
 

HYGIENE

What reopens in Switzerland on Monday and under what conditions?

Monday April 27th marks the beginning of the partial lifting of the lockdown restrictions in Switzerland that have been in force for the past six weeks. Certain sectors will be resuming their activities under strict protection measures.

What reopens in Switzerland on Monday and under what conditions?
Dental offices are now open. Photo by AFP

Medical services

Dentists are starting to practice again. The Swiss Dental Association (SSO) has developed, in collaboration with cantonal doctors, reinforced hygiene measures, in addition to those already commonly practiced, such wearing of face shields and disinfection of all instruments and equipment.

“Hygiene standards that were already very strict in normal times have been reinforced and supplemented by additional measures such as the triage of patients at risk and social distancing in the waiting room”, the SSO said.

Hygiene and distance rules will also be in effect at veterinarian clinics, which are re-opening as well. According to the Society of Swiss Veterinarians (SVS), pet owners will have to hand their animal over to the staff outside the office and collect it at the exit. 

READ MORE: What protective measures will Switzerland implement after lockdown ? 

Osteopaths, physiotherapists, and massage therapists

These professionals are also resuming their practice. Physioswiss, the Swiss Physiotherapy Association, advises its members to wear a mask, while the Swiss Federation of Osteopaths makes it compulsory.

Massage therapist are required to wear masks as well.

As for clients, they are mandated to wear them if each individual business requires it.

Hairdressers, beauticians/nail salons, tattoo parlours

The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) have created a set of guidelines for these sectors. Each branch may have its own additional protections in place as well.

All of these businesses also have strict conditions regarding the number of people accommodated simultaneously in the office and in the waiting room.

The appointments must be staggered, with a sufficient time interval between them. No more than one person should be in the waiting room at any time; the distance of at least two metres must be maintained between clients and between employees.

Both the worker and the customer must wear a protective mask. For services that require proximity to the clients, such as facial treatments or beard trimming, the employee must also wear a plexiglass visor.

The Swiss Association of Professional Tattoo Artists (ASTP) is asking its members to wear a mask type FFP2, which protects both the wearer and the person in front. For the client, a surgical mask is sufficient. The organisation also describes a series of disinfection measures and requests that the workplaces be well separated, for example with a curtain.

Florists, garden centres, hardware stores

All these stores will allow only a limited number of customers to enter the premises — one person per 10 square-metres of sales area. Special waiting areas will be provided outside, where distance can be respected.

Once inside, guidelines call for markings on the ground to guarantee a minimum distance of two metres between clients.

Customers will be asked to pay by ‘contactless’ forms of payment, as personal credit and debit cards are more hygienic than cash, which is handled by many people.

In addition, cash registers will be fitted with plexiglass protections.

These businesses can only sell flowers, plants and construction equipment, according to the ordinance of the Federal Council. They are prohibited from selling other products such as toys or leisure utensils.

READ MORE: Switzerland opens spas, saunas and bars in hotels despite coronavirus lockdown 

 

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