Hosts criticize illegal apre-ski parties – salzburg.ORF.at
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Anyone who now organizes illegal apre-ski parties in huts is a massive loss for the entire gastronomy, criticizes the spokesman for all Salzburg innkeepers. In general, according to statistics, most CoV infections continue to exist in private households. The health agency AGES put some media reports from the past few days into perspective on Monday.
According to official surveys, there are twice as many clusters in apre-ski as in workplaces. However, if you look at all analyzed clusters in Austria, most of the infections continue to occur in households.
Only in second place is the leisure sector, in which – currently not permitted by law – parties after downhill skiing are only considered a sub-area.
Much more is meant by “apres sport”.
At AGES, the exact breakdown has been as follows since Monday: “The subcategory ‘Apres Sport’ also includes activities after ice skating, skiing, cross-country skiing, etc. The share of this subcategory was between five and 40 percent in the last few weeks – the Austrian average at 16 percent. Although 70 to 80 percent are quoted from the traffic light protocol, this is a misinterpretation. It is possible that the sub-category aprés sport was discussed at the committee meeting and that there was a high proportion of the specific age group of younger people.”
“Apre-ski parties do no end of harm”
The resentment within the gastronomy about illegal apre-ski parties in huts is still great, as restaurateur Ernst Pühringer, spokesman for the Salzburg hosts, describes: “Such parties are to be condemned and do not help us in the industry – on the contrary. They harm us to no end. I definitely have sympathy for colleagues who think they can do whatever they want.”
In general, despite adhering to the rules, it is not always possible to keep the new Omikron variant in the catering trade under control, says Pühringer: “You notice that in the city too – even with the employees. It’s getting really brutal right now. But when it comes to our image, our colleagues with apre-ski parties aren’t doing us any good at all.”
Land facility tighter controls in the mountains
The police are also trying to counteract apres ski more vigorously. There have already been several focus checks – for example on the Schmittenhöhe on New Year’s Eve. However, it is emphasized that this area cannot be controlled completely.
The state of Salzburg will now hire former police officers to ensure more control pressure. However, one does not think of stricter rules when it comes to the state – and currently certainly not of a recent closure of gastronomy and hotels.
