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Now things are happening in rapid succession with cantonal tightening measures: On Sunday, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Schwyz decided on a workplace mask requirement and event limits. On Monday Ticino readjusted: starting Tuesday, a mask must be worn outdoors if the minimum distance from other people cannot be maintained. Solothurn is also massively tightening the reins: for example, no more than five people can stand together in public spaces, only 15 people can be at private parties and 30 at public events.
Not surprisingly, because the number of corona cases remains high. From Friday to Sunday, the Federal Office of Public Health reports 17,440 new infections, 259 hospital admissions and 37 deaths. In view of the drastic development, the Minister of Health, Alain Berset (48), has run into open doors with his tough proposals in the cantons. The SP magistrate reportedly has a majority in his favor in this regard, based on the outcome of the consultation. But it still has to readjust in important areas.
Mask requirement out of controversy
The outdoor mask requirement is the most controversial. A general clause requiring a mask in public spaces in residential areas goes too far for most cantons. Especially those with rural structures. If so, the mask requirement is only possible to a limited extent outside, for example in commercial areas or in street markets. “It makes sense to wear a mask outdoors when there are large gatherings, but not just on the street at night,” says a government councilor. If it is not provided, it will not be accepted. In Ticino, as of Tuesday, the mask requirement applies outside only if the minimum distance cannot be maintained. Berset has already reacted and wants to toughen the mask requirement on the outside.
Instead, several cantons propose an alternative: “We prefer a reduction in the number of people when we meet in public space to five as an effective measure,” says Zug government adviser Martin Pfister (57, CVP) on behalf of the Health Directors of Central Switzerland. “This requirement is easier to explain than an outdoor mask requirement and can also be better controlled and enforced.”
Expanding the mask requirement indoors has good chances. For example, for the school teachers, who have already asked many cantons. The mask requirement in the workplace is also generally approved. Central Swiss health directors advocate “if you can’t keep your distance.” Other cantons object that structural measures should also be possible.
The roof of the event is something to talk about
The maximum limit of 50 people at public events is also something to talk about. The majority reportedly supports the proposal. Some cantons even want to set the limit at 30. In contrast, several cantons want to leave more federal leeway, with an upper limit across Switzerland of 100 to 300 people.
Some even want to allow 1000 people to attend cultural and sporting events, always with the proper protection concepts. Freiburg, for example, defends the latter. The canton of Zurich also does not want the frame to be too narrow. And Ticino represents a “more proportional interim solution” between the current regulation with two-thirds of the seating capacity and the limit of 50 there.
Many cantons are skeptical about the 15-person limit for private parties – a glance through the living room window raises questions about execution. “How to control and sanction that?” Asks a government adviser. One option is that the upper limit is not expressed as an obligation, but as a recommendation.
Establish curfew at 11 pm
For restaurants and clubs, Berset suggests a curfew from 10 pm to 6 am There is a broad consensus among cantons: the curfew across Switzerland should not start until 11 pm Closing of discos and dance halls was approved.
The return to distance education in universities and other colleges also received wide approval. The canton of Ticino, on the other hand, opposes: “As a canton, we are against the measure to suspend classroom teaching in the tertiary sector”, says the district president, Norman Gobbi (43, Lega). These schools should at least be able to offer “hybrid teaching.”
Basically, the cantons are happy that primary school and secondary level II continue to attend face-to-face classes; returning to homeschooling is only one option as “last level of escalation”.
Finally, the new regulations in the sports and culture sector are welcomed by a majority. In particular, the distinction between amateur and professional sports. One would like to see clarification on what should apply to pools.
Damping measures required
However, the cantons not only leave you with comments on the proposed measures, but also raise the question of expanding the Crown’s financial aid measures. Complementary measures such as compensation or income replacement should also be discussed.
And one requirement is also clear: the measures must be limited in time. So Berset still has a lot of work to do until Wednesday. The Minister of Health also knows that the measures must be widely accepted. Because “what we are preparing now will most likely take a long time,” he told the media on Monday.
How many new corona infections are there in Switzerland? Daily BAG case numbers are continuously available from the statistics indicator in VIEW.
