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Loosening
At the Nid and Obwalden ski resorts you can eat on the terraces again, and alcohol can also be served again.
From Saturday there will be seats for skiers in the outdoor area of the restaurants. But there are conditions.
Good news for winter sports enthusiasts in the Nidwalden ski areas: conditions for takeaway operations in the ski area will relax on Saturday. The Nidwalden government wrote in a statement on Friday that sitting at the terrace tables is now allowed. But there are conditions: a maximum of four people can sit at a table and the tables must also be at least two meters apart. Several groups can even sit at long tables, consisting of a maximum of four people, and as long as the groups can be kept two meters apart. The mask can be removed after sitting at the table. Guests should also leave their seat promptly after consuming. Also allowed again: serving alcohol.
“The epidemiological situation has recently stabilized. The number of cases and the reproductive value tend to decrease ”, explains the director of health and social Michèle Blöchliger el paso. It has also been shown that the operation in the ski areas does not increase the burden of the Nidwalden Cantonal Hospital. Also, protection concepts in ski areas are largely well implemented.
Nidwaldner Weg does not contradict the attitude of the federal government
The fact that the Federal Council dashed hopes for an early easing of Covid measures on Wednesday, especially due to the virus’s more contagious mutation, does not contradict Nidwalden’s method for Blöchliger. “Measures like closing restaurants, museums and recreational facilities affect the interior. The situation is different outside in the open air, ”he says. And it can be explained that “normal” restaurants cannot offer seating. “In the valley, unlike the ski areas, you have many consumption options: for example at home, in the office, possibly in the car or, if the weather is good, on an outdoor bench.” And the more contagious mutation of the virus has so far been an emerging problem, especially in metropolitan areas. “So far, there have been very isolated cases in Nidwalden.”
From December 30, the ski areas in Nidwalden can be open, provided they have a cantonal permit linked to a concept of functional protection and other requirements. For example, daily capacity limits have been set with operators based on the size of the ski area.
Hope for less waste
“At lunchtime, you can hardly avoid meetings. We hope that with the outdoor seating, the distances between groups of people will be better maintained, ”continues Blöchliger. This is also supposed to mean that less waste will be left around the take out area. The interior areas of catering establishments can only be used for heating or going to the bathroom, but not for the consumption of food and drinks. A mask requirement applies.
The previous operating licenses remain valid even with the modified framework conditions in the takeaway area. The permits are still indefinite. “If the epidemiological situation worsens again or the canton detects advances against the concept of protection and the applicable requirements in ski areas, a permit can be revoked at any time,” said Government Councilor Blöchliger.
Obwalden is also relaxing
The Obwalden government has also decided to take this step of easing its ski areas. “Skiers, cross-country skiers or winter hikers should be able to relax in the middle. But, unfortunately, it is still not possible to stay as in normal times, ”the health director Maya Büchi-Kaiser is quoted in a press release. The length of stay is limited to 45 minutes.
The same is true in the canton of Uri: the Nidwalden model has been used there since the reopening of the ski areas on December 30, as it is called upon at the request of the special Uri Corona staff.
