Italy’s Ski Areas Remain Closed
18th January 2021
Last modified on May 13th, 2021
They had been scheduled to open today, January 18th, but it wasn’t to be with Covid-19 cases remaining stubbornly high.
The Italian government is now saying ski resorts will not now open until at least February 15th due to the “spread of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
The provisional date was set in early January as we reported at the time:
Italy delays opening ski resorts
It comes as the Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, has announced coronavirus restrictions to continue until March 5th under the latest emergency decree.
The northern region of Lombardy and the autonomous province of South Tirol will become “red zones” which means they are pretty much in lockdown as infections continue to rise.
They contain many of the nation’s ski resorts with only supermarkets, pharmacies and other stores allowed to remain open.
The Aosta Valley, also home to many ski resorts, has been placed in an “orange zone”.
In red and orange areas, restaurants and bars are closed except for take-away and delivery.
In orange zones shops are open, although malls are shut on public holidays.
Some ski areas opened back in the autumn but they quickly closed and all resorts have remained closed to the general public this winter.
La Thuille, Aosta Valley, Italy. Image © PlanetSKI.
A curfew remains in effect throughout the country from 10pm to 5am with gyms, swimming pools and theatres closed.
The decree renews all measures currently in force, including the evening curfew starting at 10pm.
It keeps travel restrictions in place, and also keeps Italy’s ski slopes closed until at least February 15th.
Gyms and pools remain closed until March 5th.
The regional travel ban continues, until at least February 15th, putting mountain areas out-of-bounds to everyone except locals.
People are able to cross regional borders for work, health reasons, essential reasons or for people to return to their place of residence.
Last week the government extended the Covid-19 state of emergency until at least April 30th.
The state of emergency does not determine the rules but allows the government to respond to the changing coronavirus situation by passing new rules under emergency decrees.
The Aosta Valley, Italy. Image © PlanetSKI.
