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The day of decision has arrived: today, Friday, December 18, the Federal Council wants to launch new crown measures. On Tuesday a week ago, the Federal Council spoke for the first time of a possible closure. But Health Minister Alain Berset returned on Monday: they wanted tougher measures, but the blockade was not in the foreground.
As businesses, restaurants, ski resorts and the post office speak out against the closure, the calls are growing stronger: both healthcare workers and the federal scientific task force are calling for a closure. Hospitals should not be overloaded under any circumstances, health personnel are overloaded, and space in hospitals for patients is shrinking, hence the reasoning. As Tamedia newspapers reported on Friday, several hospitals are on the brink of collapse: for example, the University Hospital of Zurich. Capacities are also becoming very scarce at the Basel University Hospital.
Telebasel users also want a lock: More than 62 percent of users voted for this measure in an online survey. A Telebasel poll of the Basel population also shows that people want stricter measures. But not everyone is in favor of the blockade.
The possible blockade is being hotly debated on Facebook – here the Telebasel community is more divided. “It’s about human life,” he writes of the proponents. Meanwhile, it is said of the opponents of the confinement: “Destroy everything.”
Pickling should close
According to rumors, the Federal Council should comply with this request for stricter but non-blocking measures this Friday. Several outlets reported this on Thursday night. They are based on information from circles close to the Federal Council. Measurements at a glance:
- All catering establishments will be closed for a month from December 22. (Exception for cantons with epidemiological development)
- Closure of sports and leisure facilities. This also includes museums, zoos, casinos, and libraries.
- The stores will remain open with the above restrictions.
- Right to work from home.
Cantons in a more favorable situation should be able to decide on tightening measures themselves. This is probably measured by the R value. It should also be possible to buy a croissant on Sunday. Berset’s three emergency plans, which should be discussed on December 28 if the contagion numbers do not decline, remain a problem.
The introduction of a traffic light system will also be discussed on Friday, as the CH-Media newspapers report. This would provide clear rules on when the rules apply in Switzerland.
Low resistance
Meanwhile, resistance to stronger measures is lower than a week ago. For example, a large number of cantonal finance directors would support new measures, as their president, Ernst Stocker (SVP / ZH), told SRF Radio on Friday morning. “Due to the pandemic situation and, in particular, the occupation of hospitals, we have to take more measures.” The health of the population comes first. Switzerland has some potential to resist this damage, provided it does not last too long.
The Health Commission of the National Council (SGK-N) does not defend itself, unlike a week ago, of stricter measures. At that time, SGK-N wrote a letter to the Federal Council urgently warning against stricter measures. The Federal Council still tightened the screw.
This time there is no motion for the Federal Council to renounce new measures, said Ruth Humbel (CVP / AG), president of SGK-N. Meanwhile, in view of the overloaded hospitals and the rising R-value, it has been realized that responsibility should be left to the federal government and the cantons and that the health commission should not interfere. “As we wrote in the letter, we can imagine some tightening,” said the president of the trade association, Fabio Regazzi (CVP / TI). The association feared that action would be taken without knowing the real effect.
When does the Federal Council provide information?
The Federal Council has its weekly meeting today, Friday, to make decisions on how to deal with the pandemic. It is not yet clear when the measures will be communicated. Experience has shown that media reporting on resolutions takes place at 2 pm at the earliest.
Telebasel will keep you updated and will inform you as soon as more is known at the time of information and measurements. The press conference will also be broadcast live on television and online.
