Cypress Mountain suspending ski season to stop coronavirus spread

Mar 15 2020, 4:26 pm

Cypress Mountain Resort will be closing indefinitely at 4 pm Sunday because of concerns surrounding coronavirus spread, the ski hill said in a statement.

The mountain said it’s been increasing preventative measures over the past few weeks, but the company now feels the “socially responsible” step to mitigate virus spread is to close.

“We did not make this decision lightly; however, our top priority is the health and well-being of our employees and guests,” the statement read.

The mountain anticipates high call volumes from guests with questions, and said staff will work hard to answer all of them.

This closure comes a day after Vail Resorts, which owns Whistler Blackcomb, announced it’s closing all of its North American ski resorts for one week because of the coronavirus.

Experts believe the virus jumped from an animal to a human host at a chance encounter in a market in Wuhan, China in late 2019. The outbreak started in China’s Hubei province, but over the past few months has spread around the world.

The World Health Organization has named the disease it causes COVID-19, and declared it a pandemic. The primary symptoms are a fever and cough, although in more serious cases it can cause severe respiratory distress.

Universities have moved classes online and the government of Canada has advised against all international travel. Many people are working from home in an effort to practice “social distancing.” 

With coronavirus on the rise, Health Canada is reminding individuals who attend events and large gatherings to monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. And if you’re not feeling well, they recommend staying home at this time. Also, due to unexpected cancellations, please check the event you plan to attend is still taking place. Keep up with COVID-19 news here.

 

Megan DevlinMegan Devlin

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