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Just a week ago, Baselbieter health director Thomas Weber called a press conference in light of the rise in corona infections, only to announce that they would stick with the previous package of measures for now. Instead, they attempted an open letter to the population. But after the federal government introduced the tightening of the mask requirement over the weekend, the cantons of Baselland and Basel-Stadt coordinated their measures in the fight against the virus. Regional differences are now a thing of the past.
The reintroduction of the 1,000 cap on major events will undoubtedly be the most talked about. This should certainly apply until the end of the year. The most prominent victim is FC Basel. Also, the club’s general meeting cannot take place in St. Jakobshalle as planned. In addition to the FCB, the appearance of the German comedian Caroline Kebekus in the musical theater should be postponed.
An increase in the number of cases increases the risk
The maximum limit of 1,000 people for major events was not lifted until early October, after the Federal Council gave the green light to the cantons. 17,050 spectators would have been allowed in the Joggeli against Lucerna, 9,257 came. Basel’s health director Lukas Engelberger (CVP) ‘Lex FCB’ had drawn harsh criticism. “The cantons had to issue permits for large-scale events after the Federal Council decided in early September to essentially re-allow them,” says Basel canton doctor Thomas Steffen.
Epidemiological development reserved. Now we must return to this reserve because the situation has deteriorated very quickly. In hindsight, it would have been better to stick to the 1,000 mark. “We expressed ourselves accordingly at that time,” says Steffen.
Heavily loaded contact tracking
The canton doctor cites several factors as the reason for the reintroduction: “As the number of cases increases, the risk of a super-spread event with far-reaching consequences increases.” It is now important to protect existing intervention systems, such as contact tracing and medical care, especially in hospitals.
Contact tracing is now very busy in the canton of Basel-Stadt as well, but the canton’s medical service can still trace the chains of infection. With the new Federal Council ban on gathering people in public spaces with more than 15 people, even large-scale events are hardly feasible.
“The concepts of protection in stadiums are good and effective, but the difficulty is what happens outside the stadiums or venues before and after the games,” says Steffen. The Basel Christmas market is not affected at the moment. Markets are not considered events, so this event does not have to be canceled, according to the health department.
Baselland ties with the city
While the upper limit in Basel-Stadt is the only new measure, the Basel area is introducing a full series of which are largely already in effect in the city. For example, the restriction for restaurants to 100 people (with spatially separated areas a maximum of 300) including the obligation to collect contact details.
In addition, the crisis management team in the Basel area was reactivated. This returns to take over operational coordination to deal with the crown crisis. The crisis team is organized differently in Basel-Stadt. He has been on duty there since the beginning of the crisis; currently meets once a week.
Although Basel-Stadt and Baselland are now based on practically the same measures, there are significant differences with the neighboring cantons of Aargau and Solothurn.
There is a maximum limit of 50 people in clubs and bars, half that in the two Basles. Additionally, Solothurn is introducing a curfew in bars and clubs starting at 1 a.m. Instead, Aargau and Solothurn are still refraining from re-introducing the 1,000 meter limit at big events.
