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Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga dons a protective mask after a press conference announcing new measures against the coronavirus on October 18, 2020 in Bern. – The Swiss government said on October 18, 2020 that it was making the wearing of masks mandatory in indoor public spaces under the new measures introduced after a “worrying” spike in coronavirus infections. More than 15 people in public would also be banned under the rules that take effect on Monday, while service in restaurants and bars would be restricted to seated customers only. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
BERN, Switzerland – The Swiss government said Sunday that it was making the wearing of masks mandatory in indoor public spaces under new measures introduced after a “worrying” spike in coronavirus infections.
He said that gatherings of more than 15 people in public would also be prohibited under the rules that take effect Monday, while service in restaurants and bars would be restricted to seated customers only.
“The sharp increase in the number of contaminations in recent days is worrying. In fact, it affects all age groups and all cantons, ”the government said in a statement.
Although the pandemic had initially largely saved the wealthy Alpine nation, cases have now exploded with 3,087 new cases reported on Friday.
Switzerland is the now European country where virus infections have progressed the most rapidly in the past week, with a 146 percent increase according to AFP data.
The total number of deaths has reached 1,822, out of a population of 8.5 million.
“This past week infections have doubled,” President Simonetta Sommaruga said at a press conference when she revealed national restrictions to contain a crisis that had previously been the responsibility of Swiss regions or cantons.
But some Swiss are not happy with the new restrictions, with several hundred people staging a demonstration in front of the Federal Palace of government in Bern on Sunday.
“At present, it only takes a week for cases to double because we have too many people infected with each new case,” said Federal Health Minister Alain Berset.
He said the proportion testing positive for Covid-19 was very high (15 or 16 percent), describing the increase in the number of infections as “concerning.”
“(But) we should not be afraid of this development … we know how to act and this is the moment,” he said at the press conference.
/ MUF
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