COVID-19: Chamonix Emergency Services Closed

On 17 March 2020, the administration of the Hospitals of Pays du Mont-Blanc has decided to close the Chamonix Emergency Services.

The medical staff will be reassigned at the Sallanches Hospital, where they can fight against the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

Jean-Rémi Richard, director of the Hospitals of Pays du Mont-Blanc, explains this decision.

"We haven't had any positive cases to deal with yet, but it won't be long. We are on the warpath. We closed the Chamonix emergency site to mobilize as many personnel as possible on the Sallanches site. All non-emergency operations have been postponed. We have prohibited visits, except those absolutely necessary. We have a total of 36 beds for the Covid-19 which are either under continuous surveillance or in care services and we are strengthening our respiratory assistance capacities", explains Jean-Rémi Richard for Le Dauphine.

And in terms of how to better help caregivers during these difficult times, Jean-Rémi Richard advises:

"The way to help us is by staying at home!";
In case of symptoms, call your doctor and, only if they worsen, go to the hospital;
There is no point in wearing a mask when you have no symptoms: "It’s wasted material that caregivers would need. [...] People can take them back to the pharmacy or give them to us if they have large quantities";
"Retired doctors and liberal health professionals will also be called in when there is an influx of patients".

Jean-Rémi Richard concludes his interview by stating that "people should be proud of their hospital". "Yes, everyone is mobilizing and brings ideas on the table. They do not count their overtime and ask to come back on their leave".

Translation from French:

"Following the presidential directives formulated on March 12 and 16, 2020, Hospitals of Pays-du-Mont-Blanc, like all health establishments, must organize themselves to manage an influx of COVID-19 patients.

To this end, the Chamonix emergency site will be closed from the evening of March 17, 2020 in order to strengthen the internal mobilization system already triggered for several days within the HPMB, which is preparing to take care of an increasing number of patients."

As a reminder, the Chamoniarde issued an alert to remind us that mountain activities are prohibited & the gendarmes of the PGHM of Chamonix patrol the Mont-Blanc massif and punish any offenders.