Ski lifts at France's Alpine resorts will stay closed in February as part of efforts to control the coronavirus epidemic even while the slopes remain open, the government said on Monday. France is currently not in lockdown and people are in theory free to visit resorts and stay in hotels but the lifts have been closed for months, making the season a write-off. Prime Minister Jean Castex has promised compensation for the winter sports sector, which counts for between 250,000 and 400,000 direct and indirect jobs in France. Castex met industry chiefs to discuss the situation on Monday, with his office saying afterwards: "The evolution of the health situation does not allow us at this stage to reopen the ski lifts." Tourism Minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne said that while no date had been set for the reopening of ski lifts, people could still visit the resorts. That means families hoping to take their traditional February ski breaks during forthcoming holidays will have access to the resorts, but no lifts to get them to the top of the slopes. Resort restaurants are shut because of coronavirus restrictions and tourists will only be able to practise activities such as cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing. France's two-week February school breaks start on Saturday in some parts of the country. pab/jj/jxb