Masks outdoors

[wooliewoo]

Looking at booking last minute for half term. There's availability in France, Austria and Italy.

Just wanted to check that's there's no outdoor masks mandate in any of these countries. I know some countries brought this in when cases surged.

Have no problem with masks indoors but don't want to have to wear one skiing!
Anyone have any knowledge of current situation please?

I have only looked at the rules for France. According to this website, "from the age of 5 and above, face masks are required in shared bubble lifts and in lift queues as well as all indoor spaces. These should be medical grade face masks rather than neck gators or buffs. You do not need to wear a face mask while you’re skiing."

FFP2 masks are required in Austria when queuing for the lift and when on the lift, regardless of whether this is a gondola or chair lift. They are also required when entering a bar or restaurant, on the ski bus or anywhere indoors like the ticket office or WC.

You don't need to wear a mask when actually skiing, but after the first two or three attempts at fumbling around pulling the thing on and off at every lift, almost everyone discovers that you can just pull the thing under your chin while you ski to the next lift. After the first few runs it just becomes second nature.

When the temperatures were down to minus 10 earlier this week, I kept mine on between lifts as well on some pistes where I was skiing into the wind.

We did have to wear masks outside in Italy at Christmas time. Didn't have to use them whilst actually skiing but did for going around town.

Thanks guys that's all very helpful.

Yes my fear is if we have to wear them in the lift queue we'll just end up wearing all the time as will be a faff to get on and off with helmets.

@massistar did you have to wear in lift queues in Italy?

@wooliewoo

Nobody bothers to take the mask off - you just pull it under your chin to save having to take off gloves, unclip helmet, remove mask, put on helmet again, put on gloves, put mask in pocket ... and then repeat in the reverse order 5 minutes later at the next lift.

After the first day you just get used to it. It is a very minor inconvenience if it means that you get to ski again after last season's closures.

Hello, I live in Italy, yes masks are mandatory outdoors again , as well as indoors. I'd say there's 100% compliance, a lot of people are using FFP2 outdoors now as this type of mask is mandatory on public transport. Can't comment on actual skiing from personal experience, but just read the Italian news and from 10th Jan FFP2 masks are also mandatory on indoor ski lifts as they are counted as transport. Also Super Green covid passes ( so fully vaccinated or Covid recovery for anyone over 12) are needed for ski lifts and gondolas, as well as restaurants etc.

In the Portes du Soleil people are wearing masks inside restaurants and in gondolas/queues but not really on chairs or drags. Whether the rules will be more strictly enforced when it gets busier in Feb I’m not sure.

We wear these uyn neck gaitors in France without any problems but I can’t find anything that says they are FFP2. No ear elastic so fine under helmet and can easily be pulled up and down.

We wash them overnight and they are dry for the next day.

Many of the French resorts had collaborated on reusable offerings but they are hard to get hold of and having bought another one.. they are not all as good as the uyn ones. The Buff ones with inserts got some terrible reviews.

www.bikester.fr/uyn-community-winter-mask-M902368.html?vgid=G1291846&cid=21_1-1_9_4465_1291846_475843991005_pla&ef_id=Cj0KCQiAxc6PBhCEARIsAH8Hff05mwYsBbPuZgpXlczHKvEOOUok2NKAdcFDRZBUz3B1evQBSYu29coaApVLEALw_wcB&ev_chn=shop&campaign_detail=smart_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxc6PBhCEARIsAH8Hff05mwYsBbPuZgpXlczHKvEOOUok2NKAdcFDRZBUz3B1evQBSYu29coaApVLEALw_wcB

@wooliewoo

Thanks guys that's all very helpful.

Yes my fear is if we have to wear them in the lift queue we'll just end up wearing all the time as will be a faff to get on and off with helmets.

@massistar did you have to wear in lift queues in Italy?

Yes. People wore them in queues. I was glad to to be honest. Felt a bit weird being that close to so many people again.

Like a PP said it was mainly FFP2 masks although the kids got away with putting their buffs up apart from closed chairlifts where it was quite strictly policed.

In port de Soleil at Christmas we wore neck gaiters (the approved ones) pulled up in queues for lifts, on the gondola and in the bars/ cafes. The instructors mostly wore surgical masks they moved under their chins whilst skiing. After the first day you just get used to pulling them up and down.

Confirming pps in Italy
Mask mandate is absolutely in force and enforced and ski lifts etc also require Super Green Pass. Ffp2 masks generally recommended, surgical ones seem to be more or less redundant and cloth were never accepted.

Thanks everyone for all the very helpful information,
Suppose I better just bite the bullet and get used to wearing FFP2 masks!
Those gators look good though.