Cypress Mountain Resort has announced it will suspend all operations at its West Vancouver ski hill at 4 p.m. Sunday in response to the coronavirus.
The North Shore ski hill made the announcement at 8 a.m., saying the resort will shut down at 4 p.m. “until further notice.”
“We did not make this decision lightly; however, our top priority is the health and well-being of our employees and guests,” the resort said in a press statement.
According to the release, the ski hill has worked over the past two weeks to increase “preventative measures” to reduce the possibility of transmission of the coronavirus, “but ultimately we feel the appropriate step right now is to be socially responsibility and suspend operations to help mitigate any further risk of spreading the COVID-19.”
The news comes after Whistler Blackcomb announced Saturday that it will be suspending operations from March 15 to 22, with an update on the remainder of the ski season expected March 20. The announcement by Vail Resorts, which owns Whistler Blackcomb, applies to all of its North American ski resorts in both Canada and the U.S.
As of noon on Sunday, both Grouse Mountain Resort and Seymour Mountain remained open.
Grouse posted a message on its website Saturday evening stating, “We look forward to welcoming all guests to the mountain for spring break.”
Grouse is taking some special precautions to deal with concerns about COVID-19, according to the public announcement, including loading its tram at 50 per cent of capacity to increase “social distance”, removing tables in some of its indoor food service areas to provide more space between customers, and opening more outdoor seating at locations around the mountain.
The mountain has also instituted a daily tram-sanitizing regimen, more frequent cleaning of “touch points” and has stopped rental of clothing at the resort.
Mt. Seymour also has a statement posted on its website stating the ski hill has increased outdoor seating, decreased indoor seating, ramped up cleaning and relaxed rules about how many people have to ride the chairlifts at one time, so skiers can have "as much space as they need to feel comfortable."
