elENGLISH Periòdic EDITION NewsW E D 7

BALANCE OF THE 2020-2021 SEASON Sales in Vallnord-Pal fell by 88% in the pandemic year Grandvalira’s investments will be conditioned by Naturlandia opens the 1,600-level activities «for the «bad» results of the winter the first time in the season» for Easter VALLNORD - PAL ARINSAL EL PERIÒDIC ESCALDES-ENGORDANY @PeriodicAND allnord-Pal Arinsal put an end to the 2020-2021 ski se- ason yesterday with an 88% Vdrop in sales. As indicated from the domain, this decrease in revenue is due, in large part, to the mobility restrictions of regular cus- tomers. In fact, as they pointed out, the- re has been a season of 93 days, af- ter postponing the opening of slo- pes - scheduled for December 5th - until January 2nd, with a sale of 57,973 days of skiing, which repre- sents 11% compared to the last se- ason without a pandemic, ie 2018- 2019. Regarding the offer of alternati- ve activities to skiing, from Valln- ord-Pal Arinsal were satisfied with the reception they have had, des- pite the lower results than previ- ous years. In this regard, they reca- lled that Pal was intended for alpi- ne skiing, while Arinsal focused on mountain skiing, snowshoeing and other non-alpine skiing.

Satisfaction at the resort of Massana for the organization of the World Ski Resort with a positive head for Covid-19 One of the slopes of Vallnord - Pal Arinsal 33 The restrictions also affected ter and summer for the practice of Vallnord-Pal Arinsal wants to allows, will begin with the opening ly at the investments we make and ski schools. According to them, the downhill skiing, snowshoeing and turn the page on the winter season of the Refuge on June 4th, the Va- measure very well every step we ta- number of children enrolled decre- other than alpine skiing with ac- and is already looking at the sum- llnord Bike Park , on Ju- ke». ased by 18%, compared to the 2019- cess to ski lifts and discounts at the mer, which, if the health situation ne 11th; and Mountain Park, June Looking ahead to the summer, 2020 season, and accommodated stations. In fact, they claim that mo- 19th. Moreno «hopes it will get better» 900 students. re than 600 season passes have be- and puts his hopes in the vaccine, In order to counteract the nega- en sold, which can be used in the GRANDVALIRA, “DAY TO DAY” The sea- which he believes is «fundamen- tive effects of the pandemic, the do- summer. the figures son in Grandvalira has /not been tal». main offered flexible policies and Despite the results, the ski area easy either. In fact, the General Ma- guarantees on seasonal ski passes. was satisfied by the organization of nager of Grandvalira-Nevasa, Juan NATURLANDIA OPENS THE 1,600 LEVEL Af- An initiative well received by cus- the Comapedrosa Moun- 93 days Vallnord-Pal Arin- Ramón Moreno, acknowledged ter closing the slopes and the 2,000/ tomers, since, as the station points tain Ski World Championships in sal has had days of skiing this that it has been a «bad» season in level on February 26th, for Easter out, of all the season passes, “only which, thanks to the established he- 2020-2021 season. which «they have gone day to day», they opened the activities of the 11% of customers have requested alth protocols and without the pre- depending on the restrictions that 1,600 level of Naturlandia «for the the return of their pass, but the rest sence of the public, the event could existed in the country and neighbo- first time in the season» and that have preferred to stay”. It should be be held without no contagion of Co- 57.973 days of ring countries, which have greatly allowed to offer leisure to people remembered that people could re- vid-19. In fact, they pointed out that skiing sold, which is 11% less conditioned the number of people which approached during these quest the return of the season pass in the course of the competition a than the last season without Co- who usually go to their tracks. days. with two options: economic or exc- total of 730 pots were held for both vid - 2018-2019. While waiting for the official ba- In fact, in the absence of official hange for next season. runners, staff and volunteers. An lance sheet and to know exactly the numbers, the entity predicts that Finally, they pointed out the go- event that, thanks to its effective- numbers with which they close this the results will reflect the effects of is the drop in sales od reception that the Natura ski ness, has confirmed the hosting of 88% winter season, Moreno pointed out the pandemic with negative num- this season. pass has had, a pass valid for win- the World Cup in January 2022. that «we will have to look very close- bers. H www.elperiodic.ad WEDNESDAY, 7 APRIL 2021 el Periòdic News 2

SPEECH THERAPY The confinement evidences the difficulties in the language of the children COLA warns of the effects on children’s speech, intubated patients, or professionals who talk a lot

COLA EL PERIÒDIC ESCALDES-ENGORDANY @PeriodicAND he College of Speech Thera- SARA FITÉ pists of Andorra (COLA) sta- PRESIDENT OF THE COLA tes that «the confinement «Wearing a mask is an Traised language problems in families who had already been aberration to acquire warned before, but who had not language; it is important started the process of consulting them». This was stated by its pre- that the patient has sident, Sara Fité, in statements to visual access» EL PERIÒDIC, where she also poin- ted out the negative effects of coro- «Confinement was navirus in patients who have suf- an even traumatic fered from the disease and had to be intubated, in professionals who experience because have to talk for many hours with we had to stop all the mask or in speech learning in treatments at once.» children. «By spending more time with their children at home, families the speech therapist has a very wi- were able to directly demonstra- de field of practice: «The speech te their difficulties,» Fité said of therapist is a health professional the new cases dealt with as a result who identifies, evaluates, diagno- of confinement. In addition, the ses and treats communication and closure had another effect on chil- swallowing disorders throughout dren, and as the COLA president life,» said the president of the scho- explained, «we have also detected ol, and added that «the aim of her many new consultations of young intervention is to participate in children, aged three and four, with improving the quality of life of its significant speech delays.» «This patients.» In this sense, the COLA increase could be due to the fact has active until the 15th an exhibi- that at the time of language lear- tion of information panels on the ning, these children were confined work of the speech therapist, loca- at home, little stimulated in the ted at the intersection of Meritxell verbal field in some cases,» said Fi- Avenue with La Borda Street in An- The exhibition on the work of the speech therapist, located at the crossroads of Meritxell and La Borda, in . té, who also stressed that usually, dorra la Vella. This action is part 33 this lack of stimulation in the fa- of the commemoration of the Eu- mily is compensated «in a school of having to wear a mask it is an lly”, a demand that the sector sent ropean Day of Speech Therapy, es- and social context», and having fai- The group has aberration, because in order to ac- to the Ministry of Health because tablished in 2004 by the Standing led, it has been aggravated. had to wait almost quire the language and particular- «the confinement was a very hard Committee of Speech Therapists of Beyond children, the COLA also ly re-educate an altered language, experience, even traumatic, be- the European Union, with the aim warns of the two types of patients a year to receive it is very important that the pati- cause we had to stop all the treat- of «disseminating the importance caused by Covid. On the one hand, permission to work ent can have visual access to the ments we had doing suddenly.» and relevance of the profession of people who suffered from the dise- shape of the lips, the position of speech therapist throughout Euro- ase and had to be intubated «they online the tongue or the expressions of AN ESTABLISHED PROFESSIONAL pe,» Fité explained. have swallowing problems and / or the face, as they all manifest and Beyond the pandemic, the figu/- Finally, the president of the CO- voice disorders.» The president al- they communicate emotions ”. re of the speech therapist has had LA shared that the school is ma- so stated that «voice disorders ha- All this is in addition to the mo- a good evolution in the country. king contributions to the Health ve been seen in some professionals difications that these professio- According to the president of the Professions Act, and detailed that who have to talk for many hours nals have had to carry out in their COLA, they have gone from being they argue that «continuing edu- with the mask, such as education workspace, providing it with par- about two or three professionals in cation is mandatory to be able to professionals, for example.» titions, gels, taking care of distan- the 80s to being in their fifties to- practice with the best guarantees This last situation also direct- ces, removing toys, etc. In this sen- day. “The number of speech thera- of professional quality.» Related to ly affects speech therapists, becau- se, Fité stressed that «on February pists has been growing to adapt to this, Fité put on the table that it is se as its president explained, «our 14th, almost a year after the start the needs of the country, and this necessary to talk to the interlocu- profession requires being able to of the pandemic, we managed to denotes greater awareness and bet- tors of the ministry the issue of ta- practice it without hindrance with get a decree passed amending our ter knowledge and recognition of riffs, because «we have the same the channels of visual and audi- nomenclature with the CASS, aut- our work,” Fité said. fees as in 2006, that is, for 15 ye- tory communication», so «the fact horizing us to work electronica- It should be remembered that ars.» H