Coronavirus - Italian Ski Areas Start BIG Shutdown. Aosta & Dolomiti Superski Ending Season

Coronavirus is hitting the Italian ski industry hard. Both Aosta and Sperski Dolomiti are ending their season.

The Chamonix lift company has confirmed the closure of all Aosta Valley ski resorts on Monday:

“We also wish to inform the holders of MONT BLANC UNLIMITED ski passes that following a decision of the Italian regional government (majority shareholder of the ski areas as well as the Skyway), the facilities of the ski areas and ski lifts of the Aosta Valley will be closed at count tomorrow Monday March 9 and until further notice.”

In a statement Aosta said:

In the presence of the President of the Region, the Regional Assessors and the Regional Coordination Group instituted by the Civil Protection for the management of COVID-19 in the area , a press meeting was held today, Sunday 8 May 2020 , to trace the point of the health situation in Valle d'Aosta in relation to the management of Covid-19 and to illustrate some of the measures for the contrast and containment of coronavirus deriving from the implementation of the DPCM dated 8 May, which see the Valle d'Aosta Region particularly involved.

To date, there are fourteen positive cases , four of which hospitalized in the regional hospital while the others are in home isolation, asymptomatic or with mild symptoms.

Sixty -one swabs have been carried out so far, of which twenty-six are awaiting outcome by the Amedeo di Savoia hospital in Turin. 

At the moment there are eighty-two people for whom the mayors have prepared an order for precautionary home isolation , under medical surveillance, so have their families and people with whom they have had close contacts.

At the opening of a press conference, the President of the Region announced that he had participated in a video conference with the Minister for Regional Affairs and Autonomies in which all the Presidents of the Regions took part in an examination of the provisions of the Prime Minister's Decree approved in the early hours of this morning, also based on the particularities of the individual realities.

The President of the Region then recalled that from today, Sunday 8 May , the castles and museums are closed , including the Bard Fort and the Saint-Vincent gambling house.

From tomorrow, Monday 9 March 2020 , educational activities are suspended in all the libraries of the regional territory to which will be added the closure of the ski lifts and snow parks, which will continue until the end of the season. Skyway and the part of the Breuil Cervinia area affected by summer skiing will see the reopening according to future provisions.

The cross-country ski runs will remain open regularly.

The President of the Region reminded that starting from tomorrow a series of comparisons with the territory will start, first of all with the local authorities and to follow the category Associations for a comparison on the measures that the restaurants, bars and shops will have to adopt for the for the contrast and containment of the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

In conclusion, the President of the Region announced that the date of the regional elections, originally scheduled for April 19, will be postponed to at least May 10, subject to verification of possible further deferrals.

Superski Dolomiti said:

“This in consideration of the rapid spread of the coronavirus in the Italian territory and the potential risks of tourists, staff and local population in all the ski areas served by its lifts and in order to preserve first of all the health and tranquility of all.”

Resorts affected are Plan de Corones, Alta Badia, Val Gardena / Alpe di Siusi, Val di Fassa /Carezza, Arabba / Marmolada, 3 Cime Dolomiti, Val di Fiemme / Obereggen, San Martino di Castrozza Passo Rolle, Rio Pusteria – Bressanone, Alpe Lusia / San Pellegrino and Civetta.

The closure will take place by Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in order to allow an orderly return of the tourists currently hosted.

“We are extremely sorry to have to take this absolutely exceptional decision, but we believe that this step is of fundamental importance to stem as far as possible even in our territories with a very high tourist density, the rapid spread of the Corona virus,” said the ski area in a statement.

“We would like to thank all the skiers we have hosted in our ski areas during this season and we hope to welcome them back soon in the Dolomites.”