Anger as ski resorts open despite risk of Covid third wave
European leaders and health officials have lambasted the decision of some ski resorts to open, saying that winter sports enthusiasts risked causing a third wave of the virus.
David Nabarro, a British official and the World Health Organisation’s envoy to Europe, made the warning in Switzerland, which has the highest infection rate on the continent but where ski resorts will stay open over Christmas and new year. He said that European governments had mounted an ‘‘incomplete’’ response to the pandemic that could drive another wave before a vaccine could begin to be administered.
‘‘They missed building up the necessary infrastructure during the summer months, after they brought the first wave under control,’’ he told the Swiss Solothurner Zeitung newspaper. ‘‘Now we have the second wave. If they don’t build the necessary infrastructure, we’ll have a third wave early next year.’’
Nabarro criticised Switzerland’s decision, which allows resorts to open as long as skiers wear masks while on lifts. ‘‘Once the infection rates sink, and they will sink, then we can be as free as we want,’’ he said. ‘‘But right now? Should ski resorts open?’’
Ski seasons in the rest of Europe remain in doubt. In France President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation tomorrow on the easing of lockdown restrictions across the country.
No decision has been made on whether resorts will be able to open but on Friday the tourism minister admitted that the industry would need to know by the second week of next month if it will be able to open in time for Christmas. Some resorts opened in Italy last month, before fresh restrictions closed them again days later. Austrian slopes were also closed last month after briefly reopening. Several Austrian resorts are still planning to open with a nationwide lockdown expected to be eased on December 6.
Criticism of the move to reopen ski resorts was echoed yesterday by the prime minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, who said travel to Alpine winter sports would be banned to prevent a repeat of the first wave of the coronavirus, which began last year with people returning from European ski slopes. ‘‘You don’t need to be a virologist to know that the holidays come with a big risk,’’ he said. ‘‘The last thing we want is a third wave of infections at Christmas.’’
Markus Soder, the conservative leader of Bavaria in Germany, said that all trips to ski resorts should be banned during the Christmas holidays.