Swiss Health Official Supports Calls for Covid-19 certificates in Ski Resorts
15th September 2021
Last modified on September 17th, 2021
This week Switzerland increased its restriction as Covid-19 continues to surge and there are growing fears for next winter with some tighter rules. UPDATED
Lukas Engelberger, president of the cantonal health directors, told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper that skiing should not be exempt from certificate requirements as it is a recreational activity.
“Skiing and winter holidays are voluntary and for pleasure. A certificate requirement is justified,” he said.
“It’s more comfortable for customers. You don’t have to wear masks all the time and you can still feel safe.”
Engelberger said he was confident that most skiers would in any case have certificates showing they have been vaccinated, have had a recent negative test or have recently recovered from Covid-19.
The Swiss government has already imposed a certificate requirement on people visiting indoor public spaces, such as restaurants and nightclubs.
It will last at least until the end of January.
Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI.
He is convinced that the pandemic can only be stopped in its tracks once a sufficient proportion of the population has been vaccinated.
“In this respect, unvaccinated people are part of the problem, while vaccinated people are part of the solution.”
See a full report on SwissInfo.
According to Engelberger such a pass could remove the need to wear masks and it would make people feel safer.
In addition it is thought resorts would be able to raise their lift capacity, thus carrying carry more people and reducing queues.
It has been reported that last week the ski resort Fideriser Heuberge in the Graubunden canton decided to make Covid certificates compulsory for skiing and staying at the resort.
Other ski resorts could follow suit.
Image © PlanetSKI
