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26 December 2020 The possibility of returning to skiing could be postponed again, with the opening of the ski facilities currently scheduled for 7 January which could be postponed to the end of January: the Technical Scientific Committee has sent a series of observations to the Regions relating to the protocol finalized at the end of November, requesting that it be made more consistent with the system of division into bands envisaged by the current legislation. 



The experts start from a premise: despite the measures taken have caused a slowdown in the growth of infections, "the circulation of the virus remains high" and, therefore, it is "still necessary to take the utmost caution", with strict compliance with the measures to prevent contagion, starting from distancing, even in "open spaces".

The eventual reopening of the plants must therefore be preceded by a "reassessment of the epidemiological situation" without which it will not be possible to proceed. 



Not only.

In the meeting with the representatives of the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces, technicians and experts pointed out another aspect: cable cars and gondola lifts represent a medium-high risk context, with the possibility of high risk during peak hours, just like the vehicles of the public transport.

In order to allow its use, therefore, an "effective reorganization of the ski lifts" must be envisaged, which must be accompanied by a series of "collective prevention and protection" measures. 



Hence the decision to send a series of observations to the protocol.

In the first place, the experts say, the measures must be "lowered" into the reality of the division into bands of Italy: in a region in the yellow zone, the lifts will be able to operate with 100% occupancy on the chairlifts and 50% on gondola lifts and cable cars (as proposed by the Regions), with the mandatory use of the mask;

in the orange ones they must all travel at 50% of the capacity and always with the obligation of the mask, while in the red ones they must remain closed.

Furthermore, in the orange areas, the restrictions on mobility must also be taken into account: that is, it will not be possible to move from one municipality to another. 



As for the proposal of a maximum daily ceiling for the sale of ski passes, the CTS emphasizes the need for "clear criteria" to be identified for their definition, which take into account not only the daily rate but also the weekly and seasonal ones.

And we also need a system that allows you to make predictions on the management of flows for the control of the ski pass and, above all, suitable measures to avoid gatherings at the start of the lifts. 



Now the ball goes back to the Regions and a new meeting of the Scientific Technical Committee is scheduled for mid-next week but it is unlikely that a solution will be reached for January 7th.

With the lifts that will still remain closed in a season that recorded record snowfalls like not seen for years.