Coronavirus, skiers were queuing at the cable car. Switzerland now afraid to ski

Rome, December 6, 2020 – There is controversy in Switzerland for images of massive skiers to Verbier ski resort, in the canton of Valais. One Saturday on the Swiss slopes at total risk of contagion, “inadmissible” defined those photographs of Le Nouveliste, in fact, with clubs and restaurants closed, the gatherings in front of the cable car have aroused deep concern.

The case, reported by the local newspaper, also alerted the local government, which immediately took action, and this morning the respect of the signs on the ground, the distancing and the additional personnel had been set up by Téléverbier.

“The damage has already been done,” he admitted. Laurent Vaucher, director of the company that manages the ski resort. “This morning we have implemented the measures that we wanted to implement during the week. We still have some adjustments to make, but we are ready.”

The State Councilor, Christophe Darbellay, who harshly criticized what was happening, also made a decision yesterday. The cantonal authorities have threatened to take action if similar situations reappear during the Christmas holidays. For offenders also the closure of the facilities.

The controversy over the photos comes at a time when data on the spread of the coronavirus are increasing in some cantons. Swiss federal authorities had already decided in recent days to toughen skiing, without banning it during the holidays, even after protests from neighboring countries that have instead closed winter sports. Now, as of December 22, the opening of individual winter resorts will be authorized by the cantons only if the epidemiological situation allows it, and the scope of closed facilities such as gondolas and cable cars has been reduced to two-thirds. Controls are foreseen in the ski areas due to the obligation of a mask and spacing in waiting lines.