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Unlike the other cantons, St. Gallen is becoming a crown hot spot. A hunt for clues from the East Swiss correspondent.
The number of cases in the canton of St. Gallen has been stagnant for days and, unlike other cantons, is increasing rather than decreasing. What makes St. Gallen a Corona hotspot?
While elsewhere a crown lock or mask requirement was imposed, people waited in the canton of St. Gallen. In August, the government, led by Health Director Bruno Damann, opposed the recommendations of the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG).
The bourgeois government acts with caution
As a physician and former family physician, he was able to credibly represent the cautious stance and largely received the approval of the population and the economy. Until the end of October, the government of St. Gallen was on its own liberal course, only implementing federal regulations in the canton. The reason given was that a slow decrease in the number of cases could not be expected to translate into an explosive increase.
The consequence: the number of cases stagnates or sometimes increases again within a few days. Suddenly, the canton of St. Gallen in German-speaking Switzerland has the highest number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants. And not just because of individual access points, for example in homes, which also influence the numbers.
Since the beginning of November, the canton’s weekly bulletin has said that the tracing of contacts is at full capacity and that the measures will take effect from the end of October. The occupancy rate in the intensive care unit at Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen remains stable at a high level.
In hindsight, one is always smarter, but perhaps the government should have responded earlier with preventive measures rather than waiting. If the number of cases does not drop, the canton will have to impose stricter measures next week.
First wave vs. Second wave
During the first wave of the corona pandemic, eastern Switzerland had its way with a black eye. For a long time, no case of corona was known in Appenzell Innerrhoden or Glarus. So it affected the population only very occasionally. “The virus is not close to me,” many thought. You don’t know anyone who has been infected with Covid-19.
Consequently, we residents of St. Gallen were lighthearted when it came to observing protective measures in everyday life. The second wave further surprised St. Gallen residents who were “not prepared.”
The figures in the border region of the Rhine Valley are surprising
For a long time, the number of cases in the Rheintal and Werdenberg electoral districts was high, according to health director Bruno Damann. This could be an indication that the virus is also carried daily from Austria to the canton of St. Gallen, among other places.
However, the health director points out: “It can affect anyone.” It doesn’t matter how well you pay attention to hygiene measures. That’s what happened to him too, he was isolated at home for the last few days.
Extrapolation can also trigger fears
Politicians, doctors and the public have accused the government of St. Gallen of the economy more than the health of the people. The government defends itself and insists on “proportionality.” Intensive care units are not yet fully overcrowded and there are no higher than average mortality rates.
There are some indications that make St. Gallen a hotspot, but ultimately the first place cannot be explained.
