Some ski resorts in Italy have opened despite a government ban

Some Italian ski resorts opposed the government's decision to halt the slopes planned for Monday and start operations. "We were reassured on Friday that we could open and we complied with all the regulations so that we could open safely. And we did that today," said Luca Mantovani, cable car operator at the Piana di Vigezzo Piedmont resort on the border with the Swiss canton of Ticino. "We want to send a signal that they cannot behave in this way. We also care about the safety of citizens, but they cannot change their decision 24 hours before the opening of ski resorts," Mantovani said. Although the Italian government has promised financial support to the centers, according to Mantovani, they have not yet received a euro. In Pian Mune, Piedmont, operators of local ski facilities came to the slopes to protest against the government, which they accused of "disrespect and indifference." "We have accepted the victims to adapt to the anti-epidemic measures, and now we cannot open up anyway," the operators said, according to media reports. The northern Italian region of Piedmont is considering turning to the court to freeze a government decree to block the opening of the ski season. Protests against the government's order are also planned in the towns and villages there. The Confcommercio trade association called the current situation unacceptable. Failure to open ski resorts this winter means a loss of € 12 billion for Italy. According to the union, it is not possible for the government to issue a ban again 24 hours before the planned opening. The head of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, spoke of the enormous damage that the government must compensate.