What do you think about ski resorts staying open in Switzerland?
The onset of winter has sparked a debate in the alpine countries about whether ski resorts should remain open amid the coronavirus pandemic. While countries like Austria and Germany have closed their ski areas for the season, Switzerland’s resorts will remain open.
Do you go skiing every year? What do you think about the situation?
From the article Switzerland riles Alpine neighbours by keeping its ski resorts open
I think it’s a crock and they should close the ski resorts down!!! First of all It’s a virus heaven and secondly - why are resorts even open, when they aren’t even considered essential in our lives? We can’t even buy clothes or shoes, especially during the winter season, but yet ski resorts are open? This is definitely having priorities screwed up and capitalism at its finest!
Capitalism at its very worst. Saving the economy is more important than saving the people and eradicating the virus. If people could prove they are Covid-free, wear masks, socially distance etc, then maybe opening ski resorts etc would be ok. But, there is no cure for stupid and those "me-first" who think they won't catch the virus and are not responsible for spreading it. Look at war situations. People stayed home for much longer (if they had a home). What is a few more months?
The ski resorts can remain open but they need to have a Polizist at their resort to ensure the masks and social distancing are maintained.
We all know that the people will stop using masks or they pretend to use masks. They will also squeeze very close to each other in the queues and inside the gondola.
Yes, they CAN remain open, but the Covid measures must be respected. Get ready handcuffs and fines tickets.
Everything should remain open as normal. People in higher risk groups should make the choice for themselves not to engage in risky activity, just like with any other disease that affects a specific demographic.
I see some people asking "what is the justification for keeping restaurants open"? How about the fact that the people they employ need to earn a living? Not everyone is fortunate enough tk be able to work remotely and stay employed.
It's very simple. If ur afraid of contracting a virus which likely won't even give you any symptoms, don't go out.
The problem is that people are highly contagious before any symptoms develop so they do not know they are covid positive and can infect a number of others who in turn pass on the infection and then the disease, which is fatal to many, spreads exponentially and out of control.
If hospitals no longer have enough resources to meet demands they will be unable to provide care to all that need it either for covid or other conditions.
Until there is sufficient vaccination uptake and herd immunity, other measures such as those currently in place or even lockdowns if the R value (reproductive number) becomes too high. The aim is to keep this at all times below 1.
Semi lock down is not working, we have a second wave, after Christmas we could have a 3rd one. Just wait for vaccination to finish. The quicker we stop gettin sick the quicker we can all return to life and work and pleasures all together without any masks, but now it is a year up and down with rules and disaster for a whole year anyone who is not earning 60k a year. Many were left without any help what so ever. How many student graduated with no prospect of job this year and no help from goverment, like my parents can't support my sister any longer, graduation from uni should have allowed her to work but now this is a tradegy for a family. Thanks Switzerland
If you travel to a ski resort you can go to any bar or café. Down in the valley people are denied this pleasure and a number of people are on their own. This offers the temptation of them putting themselves at greater risk by taking a crowded bus or train to a resort where there is more socialisation, life and fun!
Why kill the economy of whole regions because ski toilets may spread the virus?
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For me the whole topic is a perfect example that we need more nuanced, more sensible state regulations, instead of simple and rough ones. Things like banning skiing because a ski afterparty in Austria infected people are just bad governance.
In the first place, it is so wrong to depend on ski resorts to finance the economy of any regions. The swiss people in these areas need to relook their lives.
If they want to open the ski lifts and restaurants, make sure there is a solid policeman/woman who is there to ensure order.
We are not living in "normal" days. We need discipline. If the people can not self manage, then the management will be done to them.
I have gone skiing 9-10 times this year already, and I was hoping the ski resorts would be very careful with their measures. So far some ski resorts are doing better than other in terms their mitigation measures, except for one thing in common: people using scarfs and buffs as masks. Buffs and scarfs are NOT masks. Even on the BAG website they stipulate the following: "Covering your face with a scarf of cloth does not protect you sufficiently from becoming infected and is of only limited use in protecting others. A scarf or cloth should not be used instead of a mask" However, most people who are skiing are wearing scarfs/buffs. The ski resorts say they require masks, but somehow people continue to pass through this loop hole. Why even bother to require masks if there is no enforcement of this rule? It's SUPER unnerving and uncomfortable being in a busy tram when everyone around you isn't wearing sufficient protection, it's easy to see how the virus continues to spread. Would be nice if everyone would follow the rules.
Do police spot checks and issue a fine of 100'000 chf to the ski resorts. Second fine is 200'000chf.
We can play this game forever.
Zermatt last evening. Majority of people on the street were wearing masks, which indicates a fair amount of concern amongst people, yet in the sit down bars and restaurants which were quite full, no one wearing masks. Bizarre. I still don't understand the logic behind the rules for restaurants. Given how long people spend in them, and the number of hard surfaces where transmission is possible, where is the justification for keeping them open?
Just test everyone: before they go on the slopes every time they take a ride up. The tests are fast and you can then quarantine all those who test positive.
Just be honest and measure it. Everything else is just pretending for a few millionaires who want to ski.
Every skier should be separated by plexi gass, just like in the supermarket. And, there should only be 20-30 people on the slopes at all times, like in the supermarket. If two or more touch or use the same elevators they might spread the virus.
Yes that's right.
Ballot the ski passes for 100 people at 300chf each per day.
That would be sensible and responsible. If you want to ski and "NEED TO" ski, then pay up. And only a fair balloting system can ensure people have a fair chance to ski.
This is same as special limited football tickets.
The medicine is simple: if the vaccine works than some can take it and everyone else does not need to wear a mask or do anything else as those who took the vaccine are immune.
It is the same as chosing to eat healthy or not. You cannot force someone wanting a pizza diet to wear a mounth mask so he can no longer eat pizzas. Or with forcing a driver who ever got a fine to never use a car in his life because he shows symptoms of bad driving. How about some who shows signs of being a bad skier and no longer be alowed to do any sport?
I would say that during skiing we would be observing the essential social distancing. After all I do not really want to hit another skier. The problem would be the 'after-ski' gatherings. Those should be skipped. So, yes, keep the slopes open. And no, I cannot join. I am on the beach...
We find ourselves - ALL OF US, in a very dire situation - one that requires drastic measures most probably not experienced before. It behooves ALL OF US to comply with the regulations with NO EXCEPTIONS. And to those refusing to wear masks I say: the mask protects you and it protects me...from you.
Have you changed your earlier position on vaccination?
VERAGOTTLIEB
November 12, 2020 - 16:21
“No, I would not take this risk. Products are rushed to market without adequate control - as usual, making money is top priority. Gone are the days when a vaccine took 10-15 years before being released.”
once you take a working vaccine you are immune so someone with no mask does not endanger you, cause you are already immune
There is too little we really know about the vaccine so far - as well as how safe are we really after inoculation. And neither is it known so far if, once over the infection, one would catch it again or not. Too many unanswered questions...
I just wonder how safe you would feel if you caught the virus? How many of the scientific reports you have actually read that support your assertions and why are your views so at variance with those of top scientific experts worldwide. Do you have some specific knowledge that they lack? If so this should be shared.
If four of the most important regulatory bodies, FDA, MHRA, EMA, Swissmedic, have all independently approved the vaccine you can be sure it meets all of their safety, quality and efficacy criteria.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the only two to be approved for use in Europe so far, use entirely different technology from all previous vaccines and contain no harmful ingredients. Side effects, which can occur with any treatment as it cannot be predicted how each individual will react or what undetected underlying they may have, are rare but they can produce some reactions, as documented, which is a positive sign that they are working.
@SWI - is SUZE1 a paid watchdog for SWI as she seems to follow VERAGOTTLIEB's every comment without any science behind her own comments?
The focus in all the news seems to be on sick people rather than the numbers that do not get this disease and why do some get sick and others do not!!!
The bubonic plague didn't kill everyone, otherwise there would be none of us here !!!! and it still exists.......
Hello Jamie, I am just an ordinary poster, as you might also be, with an interest in returning to a normal post-covid way of life as soon as possible, as I trust everyone else is.
All my posts have been based on the most recent and widely circulated scientific evidence. The four regulatory bodies as well as Pfizer and Moderna, mentioned in my most recent one are all scientific institutions. All the information, from these and other reliable sources, is easily accessible to all and is far too voluminous and unnecessary to repeat here in the comments.
“... why do some get sick and others do not!!!”
Please could you give an answer your question.
Further to my previous post, VERAGOTTLIEB has raised some interesting issues in which I have an interest, and to which I wished to respond.
The idea of the lockdown measures should be to avoid overcrowding. The exception for skiing may end up defeating the whole lockdown measures. In the crowded trains and slopes, they share toilets where standards are often lower. By the time we figure out the damage, it will be 2 weeks gone and it will come back to haunt us.
No, they should not stay open. The people have already proven that they do not know how to act responsibly otherwise the cases would not keep rising. Furthermore, the shops and restaurants that have been impacted the most continue to have more restrictions placed on them, during their most profitable time of the year. If you’re going to tell one industry to close their doors at 7pm, when it’s their best time of the day to make profits (when people are off work) then you have to apply equal restrictions across the board. Not pick and choose which industry you want to hurt and which you want to help.
It is a reverse logic. Because restrictions on restaurants to close at dinnertime are nonsense, it does not follow to force everybody else to behave nonsensically.
Lockdowns don't slow down the spread. The results from Lockdowns are worse than the virus. People loose their jobs, some cant pay their mortgages, small businesses go bancrupt, mental health problems increase, use of alkohol and drugs rise. Domestic violence and suicides are increasing.
Everybody understands that a Healthcare system is financed by tax income. When people don't get salaries, there is no income tax, when people dont spend money in shops and restaurants, there is no VAT, when companies dont make profit there is no corporate tax. Everybody who wants a lockdown to protect the healthcare system is ruining it on the long run cause with a crumbling economy the healthcare system also suffers.
Not a good idea...Or ALL play by the same rules, without exceptions, or none.
The Resort should remain open. Look countries with strict measures in place have failed to control the virus and cold weather is not helping the situation. The government has a role to play on advising safety and informing people on what to do. The can creat policies for business to aid them in safety measures. But to shut them down causes hardship for many others and the Government is not there to aid them, small businesses.
Huge mistake. The Government needs to stop giving in to big business, stop putting the economy first and start putting people first. I've cancelled Christmas with my family (apart from meeting them online). The quicker everyone learns to avoid everyone else, the sooner Covid will disappear. Though this will be slower than other countries as the Health Department has not approved the vaccine.
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