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(Adds details from news conference)
ZURICH, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Swiss ski resorts can stay open
for now as long as they have strict safety measures in place to
limit the spread of the coronavirus, Health Minister Alain
Berset said on Thursday.
Neighbours France, Italy, Austria and Germany have all
ordered even the high-altitude lifts that could be running this
early in the winter to remain closed in the hope that all
resorts can benefit at peak-season, if and when the infection
rate slows.
"In Switzerland the situation is much easier, one can still
ski, that was always the goal. Obviously with respect for very
strict measures, we have to have protection plans and things
must be clear," Berset told a news conference in Bern.
He left the door open to change policy should conditions
change by the year's end, when the two-week holiday period lures
many winter sports enthusiasts to the slopes.
"The situation remains very serious and very unstable...and
we have not decided yet how it will go in future," Berset said,
adding Bern was in close contact with its neighbours and Swiss
cantons.
He acknowledged tensions would arise if Swiss resorts were
the only ones open. "We will have to discuss this with the
cantons but we are a sovereign country and can decide ourselves
what the facts are on our territory," he added.
Switzerland has adopted a "middle path" to curb the pandemic
that has infected more than 300,000 and killed 4,109 here,
leaving the nation largely open for business while urging people
to keep their distance and embrace proper hygiene.
Berset said Switzerland could get the first, limited supply
of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of January if all went well. It
would not force people to get vaccines, which it plans to
distribute to patients free of charge.
Switzerland has signed vaccine contracts with Moderna
and AstraZeneca and reserved doses from Pfizer
while finalising a contract.
(Reporting by Michael Shields; editing by Stephanie Nebehay and
Barbara Lewis)
