paulo Wrote:
Today’s announcement might be a blessing in disguise... looks like the crowds at the Lecht were attracting media attention (not to mention being a transmission risk), and they were in danger of spoiling it for the other two. What happened to the idea of restricting numbers? This way there is at least some hope things might be allowed to open again when restrictions are relaxed ..?
The story about Scottish Skiing and CairnGorm Mountain in various UK newspapers this morning was a bit weird, it's very unlikely they'd have mentioned Scottish Skiing unless they were spoon-fed a specific story.
The mention of ski areas specifically today was also odd, it stuck out like a sore thumb for something so niche and specific to be mentioned in such an announcement. The guidance with respect to snow sports has thus far been closely aligned to that with golf, and the R&A confirms that golf courses can remain open in Scotland under lockdown.
Indeed there appears to be nothing in law, in terms of the new statutory instruments - "2021 No. 1: The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 10) Regulations 2021" - which exclude the snow sports areas from operating. Though there is now a general remain at home rule in the regulations, outdoor exercise and recreation remains an exemption and the travel restrictions remain as they are under the pre-existing level 4, namely:
undertake exercise or recreation—
(i) outdoors,
(ii) that starts and ends at the same place, which place must be—
(aa) in the local government area in which that person lives, or (bb) within 5 miles of such local government area