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More than 27,000 dead in France
In France, more than 27,000 people died as a result of a coronavirus infection. The Health Ministry said 27,074 deaths have been recorded since the pandemic began. The number of deaths thus increased by 83 compared to the previous day, slightly less than 10,000 of the deaths were registered in social assistance centers and for the elderly.
Four regions are particularly affected: the region of the capital of Paris, Île-de-France, the eastern regions of France Grand Est and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Hauts-de-France in northern France.
What limit goes up when? – a general vision
Our neighboring countries are still unreachable for many. But in mid-June, after a three-month ban, some borders are supposed to reopen. Austria was the first neighboring country to close the borders and is now a driving force when it comes to opening. The German government wants to return to normality at the borders, but only entirely on June 15. The border with France should also be fully opened on this date, but this has not yet been confirmed. In Italy, freedom of movement is still restricted and the opening of the border cannot yet be foreseen.
What will the holidays be like in neighboring countries?
“10vor10” asked correspondents from neighboring countries what holidays in France, Germany and Italy would be like. “In Berlin, pressure was exerted mainly on Baden-Württemberg to remove the fence between Konstanz and Kreuzlingen,” said Germany correspondent Bettina Ramseier. There was also criticism of Interior Minister Horst Seehofer. It should now be easier for commuters and unmarried couples. But that’s it. In principle, the following apply at least until mid-June: Free travel between Switzerland and Germany is not allowed. ” Germany does not depend on tourism. The most important thing is to allow the German population to go abroad on vacation.
France correspondent Alexandra Gubser said that with 89 million foreign visitors and a volume of 170 billion euros, the tourism market is an economic heavyweight in the neighboring western country. Also: «With the distance rules, two thirds of the guests have left quickly. That could mean that 25 to 40 percent of all restaurants fail. “
Italy correspondent Philipp Zahn added that the southern neighbor should initially open up to locals. “And that already has problems: in the largely preserved south, people fear visitors from the north.”
Rome is preparing a 55 billion aid package
The Italian government wants to help the struggling economy with 55 billion euros and help citizens out of the crown crisis. The corresponding program was presented by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in Rome. Support measures are planned for economic sectors such as tourism, agriculture, construction and culture. There is also money for the unemployed and families. The health system and schools will also be strengthened with multi-billion dollar injections. The government also plans to launch programs for medium and small companies.
Houses of worship should be able to open their doors again
Pandemic promotes terrorism
The pandemic “would likely raise terrorist morale, promote the spread of extremist narratives and conspiracy theories, hamper police and military efforts in the fight against terrorism, and undermine anti-terrorism policies.” This is what the EU coordinator for the fight against terrorism, Gilles de Kerchove, told “Zeit Online”. It warns of a global security crisis after the crown pandemic. Several groups have already tried to incite their followers through disinformation campaigns and conspiracy myths.
De Kerchove cites the health sector as a possible new target for terrorists. “In the West, right-wing extremists and jihadists could see attacks on medical personnel and medical facilities as highly effective because they would cause a massive upheaval in society,” he said.
EU anti-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove fears that the morale of terrorists will rise due to the pandemic.
Keystone / file
Summer should take place, but how come it’s still unclear?
“It will not be a normal summer for any of us.” This is what EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said. Therefore, it is clear that summer tourism will look a little different in each country, because the recommendations of the European Commission are not binding. “But if summer vacationers want to enjoy it this way it’s almost exactly like everything else right now: uncertain,” says SRF business editor Fabian von Allmen in his analysis.
Von der Leyen pushes the gas to rebuild
The head of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, wants to inject billions of the European budget into the economy. The amount of this injection of money is not yet known. The economic recovery program should be carried out during the next multi-annual budgetary framework from 2021 to 2027, but if possible start earlier, von der Leyen said at the European Parliament in Brussels.
It is currently working on a reconstruction model on behalf of the EU countries. However, the details are controversial, and von der Leyen left important points open. This includes the scope and exact method of financing: she had already spoken about investments in billions and explained that she wants to get into debt with the help of budget guarantees from the EU countries.
Von der Leyen now said for the first time how money should be used. The entire additional amount will be spent on EU programs and will be controlled by the European Parliament in accordance with normal budgetary rules, a concession to parliamentarians who want to demand their opinion in a resolution.
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Politician demands faster border openings
Alsatian regional policy Brigitte Klinkert is not satisfied with the pace of easing border controls between Germany and France. “We are making progress, but we are not fast enough,” said Klinkert, chairman of the council of the Haut-Rhin department in eastern France, which borders Baden-Württemberg. Protective measures are still essential, but there is no longer any health reason to keep borders closed as long as the virus is not circulating on both sides of the Rhine, Klinkert explained.
Italy: aid package adopted
After a long delay, Italy launched its € 55 billion aid package, aimed at supporting companies and individuals in the virus crisis. The cabinet has approved the project, says Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Disputes in the weak government coalition had repeatedly delayed adoption.
Why support professional sports?
The Federal Council has decided to support Swiss professional soccer and ice hockey leagues with up to 350 million Swiss francs in the next two years, in addition to mass sports. Federal Councilor Viola Amherd on the need for funds.
Canceled trips: refund is mandatory
Anyone who has paid for a trip that cannot be carried out is entitled to a refund. You do not have to be satisfied with a coupon. This is the law in both the EU and Switzerland. However, no one currently receives a refund from the airline or travel agency. Two legal principles collide.
Because companies that are not sure they are still liquid at the end of the year should not pay money, as explained by Vito Roberto, professor of private law at the University of St. Gallen. However: “Personally, I would probably only accept a coupon if it is a much better option than a refund. If the amount goes beyond what is the reimbursement amount ».
Where can you go on vacation now?
In Switzerland, border controls with neighboring Austria, France and Germany will be relaxed starting May 16. It should only be checked sporadically. There is still no timetable to open the border with Italy. You can see on our map where Swiss tourists are also welcome.
Uber cleans its vehicles
Transportation agent Uber spends $ 50 million on face masks and disinfectants to clean vehicles. As additional measures in the crown crisis, all drivers and passengers in the US The US, Canada, and many European countries must wear face protection while driving, as Uber announced.
Drivers will also be asked starting Monday to snap a photo when they sign up for the app after donning a mask. The software automatically recognizes if a person is wearing nose and mouth protection. Until now, passengers have not had to take a masked photo, but to think about such a requirement, said Uber manager Sachin Kansal. For drivers, Uber only had to add the mask control feature to the existing facial recognition method.
Keystone
Record number of passengers at Zurich airport
Operations at the Zurich airport practically stalled in April due to the crown pandemic. The drop in passenger numbers was even more dramatic than in March: overall, the number of travelers dropped by 99 percent to just under 27,000, as the airport announced. Local passengers made up the majority of these travelers, about 88 percent. For the last time in 1952, so few passengers traveled through the Zurich airport in a month. This was four years after the airport was moved from Dübendorf to Kloten.
The fence will go
The fence between Kreuzlingen and Constance has often been in the headlines in recent days – a symbol of the closed border in the Corona crisis. Separation should now be a thing of the past: starting June 15, the German border is expected to reopen. A report from the border area.
WHO urges reluctance
The reduction of measures against the spread of the coronavirus does not in any way signify the end of the crisis, as emphasized by the World Health Organization (WHO). Returning to normality is a long way, according to emergency relief coordinator Michael Ryan in Geneva. Loosening would only make sense with an extensive program to monitor for new infections.
Loosening the measures before the infection has subsided significantly poses the risk of many new infections, Ryan said. Relaxing the measures without thoroughly testing them later and controlling possible infection chains is dangerous. Waiting for the number of infected people to rise in hospitals is also dangerous. This could take weeks, and then it would be too late to keep the infection under control.
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How to continue tourism in central Switzerland?
Tourism will continue to struggle with the effects of the crown pandemic months after the relaxation. Swiss mountain railways and tourist destinations are thinking of the best strategy for the future, including those in central Switzerland. In an online conference, they reported on how the situation is likely to unfold. Rigi-Bahnen director Frédéric Füssenich, for example, said they did not expect international guests to return this year. “We are facing one of the greatest challenges in our 150-year history,” said Füssenich.
The situation was similar with the director of Engelberg-Titlis Tourism, Andres Lietha. The Engelberg region would do above average business with foreign tourists. “From July to November, 40,000 hotel nights will be missing from hotels for international tourism,” Lietha said. Hotels that would have relied primarily on Asian guests would now have to do a lot of searching for new clients. Hotels that would depend on local tourists, on the other hand, had good reservations.
Ukraine: surrogacy children cannot be picked up
Due to crown restrictions, dozens of surrogate children in Ukraine cannot be picked up by their foreign parents. “A video showing 46 children is distributed on social media and on the official website of one of the Kiev clinics,” Ukrainian human rights officer Lyudmila Denissova wrote online. The babies are currently in a hotel in Kiev.
According to the video, the children’s parents are from European countries such as Germany and Austria, but also from the United States, Mexico and China. Since mid-March, foreigners without a residence permit have been banned from entering the former Soviet republic due to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, all regular international flight connections are cut.
Holidays in a nearby country: others made the decision
Just two and a half weeks ago, the Federal Council recommended going on vacation to Switzerland this summer. Now a new normal prevails, Federal Parliament editor Andy Müller reviews today’s decisions in the Federal Council. Switzerland was a driving force in the effort to open the borders quickly. “But although Switzerland is a member of the Schengen, it shows once again that this small country is a supplicant, the decisions are made by the big ones,” continues Müller.
