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HEALTH

French government confirms ski lifts to stay closed but says holidays ‘possible’

Ski lifts in France will remain closed throughout February, the French government has confirmed, but the secretary of state for tourism has said "it is still possible" to go on holiday despite high infection levels that have pushed France to the verge of a third lockdown.

Published: 2 February 2021 08:35 CET
French government confirms ski lifts to stay closed but says holidays 'possible'
Avid skiers will have to do without help from ski lifts if they head for the mountains this month. Photo: AFP

Ski holiday resorts in France will not be able to operate their ski lifts during the upcoming February school holidays as hoped, with no date envisioned for when they may get back in business, the government has confirmed.

“The evolution of the health situation does not permit us, at this stage, to reopen the ski lifts,” Prime Minister Jean Castex's office announced on Monday evening, following a meeting with the winter sport sector.

Faced with rising Covid-19 rates and hospital patient numbers, France has toughened its restrictions in a last-ditch bid to avoid a third nationwide lockdown, including closing non-EU borders and large shopping centres.

But for the moment no ban has yet been issued on travel between regions and ministers said on Tuesday that it was still possible to take a holiday or visit family and friends in a different part of France – while warning that the situation could change quickly.

“At the moment, there are no restrictions on travelling,” said Junior Minister Emmanuelle Wargon on Tuesday.

“The holidays can take place,” she told French TV channel BFM. “However, of course, as you know, our decisions evolve every day. . . alongside the evolution of the virus,” she added. “Things can always change.”

Secretary of state of tourism Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne also told BFM: “Today, going on holiday is possible. There are no restrictions on circulating between the regions.”

The February school holidays begin in some regions of France on Saturday, February 6th.

“There is a capacity to go on holiday, but it's important to remain vigilant when doing so, like people in France did over Christmas,” Lemoyne said. “That means for example not hesitating to get tested if you plan to visit your grandparents.” 

But the ministers warned things could change quickly and with Macron holding another Defence Council meeting with top ministers on Wednesday a future lockdown could still be on the cards.

“We will be extremely vigilant… we monitor the health situation every day, the number will dictate the rest,” said Lemoyne. “We will update the French as regularly as possible.”

Case rates, hospital rates and death rates continue their slow and steady rise in France, though Health Minister Olivier Véran said on Sunday that things were looking better than feared.

The number of new coronavirus cases had barely increased over the past week, he told Le Journal du Dimanche, while other indicators – such as traces of the virus detected in waste water – were also reassuring.

But he too stressed that, if the numbers worsened, the government “won't hesitate” to impose a lockdown.

“We never said we would not re-confine in the coming 15 days if it were necessary,” the health minister said.

France's intensive care ward occupancy rate in hospitals stood at 63.6 percent nationwide on Monday, with some regions at the brink of saturation and several hospitals having to transfer patients between regions. 

France also registered its highest hospital death toll in months on Monday, with 456 fatalities due to Covid-19 registered in one day – a number unmatched since November 24th, when the country was under its second lockdown, although Monday tallies can include delayed reporting from the weekend.

Photo: Santé Publique France

Despite the government's tepid reassurances, the French public seem to be expecting a looming lockdown. Holiday booking rates dropped by 77 percent over the past few days, according to a study by the French holiday company PAP Vacances, published by France Info.

Compared to February last year, this year has seen 58.4 percent fewer holiday bookings for the February break, with the mountineering sector suffering the heaviest loss of 66.9 percent of their clients last year.

The French government has promised the ski sector to strengthen economic aid as compensation for what looks to be a saison blanche – a total write-off of the ski season.

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HEALTH

How to donate blood in France

Donating blood can help save lives - and authorities often issue appeals for donors around holiday periods, including the public holidays in May. If you want to donate in France, here is what you need to know.

Published: 24 April 2024 17:08 CEST
How to donate blood in France

Who can do it?

In order to donate blood (don du sang) in France, you must be aged between 18 and 71, and you must meet certain health and medical criteria, including being in good health and weighing at least 50kg. 

Most of the rules for donating blood are the same in France as they are in countries like the US and UK, but there are some specifics to be aware of. 

For example, you cannot donate blood if you lived in the UK for a cumulative total of at least 1 year between 1980 and 1996, which excludes many Brits from giving blood in France.

READ MORE: Is it true Brits are banned from giving blood in France?

Similarly, you cannot donate blood if you:

  • have undergone a transfusion or transplant
  • could transmit a disease (bacteria, virus or parasite) through your blood
  • could transmit a viral infection through sexual contact
  • had a piercing or tattoo in the last four months
  • are or were pregnant within the last six months
  • had sex with different or new partners in the last four months
  • or have taken intravenous drugs

If you are sick with the flu or a cold, you will likely be denied as well (those who had an infection or fever in the last two weeks). People who visited an area with high rates of malaria, who have survived cancer, or who had recent surgical and dental operations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

To figure out if you are eligible you can take this quiz (in French).

You cannot be excluded from donating blood based on your sexual orientation – in March 2022 France lifted exclusions on gay men giving blood, saying the rule was no longer necessary and was unfair.

However, you can be excluded based on the health concerns listed above.

How does the process work?

In France, there is a three-step procedure.

First, you will complete a questionnaire assessing your ability to give blood. You will have a short interview with a medical professional who will determine if you are eligible. You have 15 days following the interview to follow-up and inform the medical professionals if there was anything you forgot to share. 

You can find a blood donation centre on this interactive map. Click on a centre to make an appointment. Keep in mind you will need to bring ID along.

The amount of time it takes to give blood depends on whether you are donating whole blood, plasma, or platelets (more on this below). 

After the donation, you will rest briefly and be given a light snack. If there were any abnormalities with your blood, then you will be contacted once it is analysed.

Can you be paid?

No, you cannot be paid. All types of blood donation are considered to be voluntary, unpaid acts in France – your reward is that post-donation snack, plus the priceless knowledge that you may have saved someone’s life.

Blood vs. plasma vs. platelets

A whole blood donation (don de sang total) collects three essential components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. However, you can also donate plasma or platelets individually. 

The procedures take different amounts of time, and there are also different intervals between donations you should keep in mind. 

Whole blood donations are used for blood transfusions and medical research, and the volume taken will depend on your weight and height. These take about eight to 10 minutes for the blood collection, though you should allow for 45 minutes to an hour for the medical interview beforehand, plus rest and snack time afterwards.

Men can give a whole blood donation a maximum of six times a year, while women can give four times a year. There should be at least eight weeks between donations.

Plasma donations (don de plasma) yield two to four more times the plasma taken during a normal whole blood donation – these are usually used for special transfusions. It will take a maximum of one hour for the donation, but you should allow closer to an hour and 30 minutes. 

For plasma, both men and women can give a plasma a maximum of 24 times in one year. The interval between donations should be at least two weeks.

Donating platelets (don de plaquettes) helps to treat certain cancers, including leukaemia. This process takes a bit longer – closer to an hour and 30 minutes for the collection, so allow two hours for the whole process.

For platelets, men and women can both give a maximum of 12 times per year. The interval should be four weeks between donations.

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