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The trade association and the bourgeois parties call for the reopening of the stores. Do you understand that?
Jean-Pierre Gallati: Yes, as a long-time commercial worker in my previous job, I understand that well. As health director, I am responsible for the Aargau health system and its operation. In view of the infections, which have been rising to too high a level for two weeks, and the high level of stress in hospitals, depending on the reproductive value, there is a risk of a collapse of the intensive care units on January 1 or 15 . That would be a catastrophe because then there would be a lack of capacity for urgent interventions and treatments, as well as for emergencies.
And to avoid that, the stores have to be closed?
Yes. The closure of restaurants decided by the Federal Council is not enough to stop the virus. We know it from other cantons. French-speaking Switzerland has shown how to proceed. Therefore, the governing council decided with great regret to close the stores.
Do critics forget that it is about human life?
No I dont think so. Many livelihoods also depend on economic well-being. The governing council, whose members have worked in commerce for many years, knows this. He’s also committed to providing support to businesses in need, now and in the future.
Exceptions and uneven skewers also cause confusion. Why so complicated?
Actually, the regime is the same as in spring. However, for reasons of customer friendliness, we have refrained from restricting the range of stores that primarily sell everyday items. Such a restriction would not be helpful to other companies either, but it would affect customers.
Until now, an agreement with the surrounding cantons has been important to you. Why not this time?
We are in constant contact with our neighboring cantons and we maintain a good exchange. However, in the “special situation” in which we find ourselves, each canton must always make the decisions it deems appropriate for itself at the time in question. The development of the last week and especially the increasing number of cases in combination with signs of overload in our hospitals did not allow us to lose another week for agreements. We would have gladly waited because of the Christmas sales. But the risk of hospitals collapsing in January was too high.
Does doing it just bring something to lower the numbers? The people of Aargau now simply do their Christmas shopping in neighboring cantons.
The measures are only as successful as people accept and live. We are convinced that the majority of the population of Aargau will show solidarity and support the measures. The fact that some people leave is no reason to be hopeful and do nothing about the beginning. There is too much at stake for that.
Do you expect other cantons to follow suit?
Yes, it is to be expected that other cantons will also close their stores. Yesterday the Solothurn governing council passed a resolution similar to ours.
Is the governing council considering new measures? Should distance education take place longer after the holidays or also in primary school?
The job of the governing council is to maintain the health system. It continually assesses the situation with the participation of all service providers and experts and also considers other measures in case the situation worsens.
The ultimate goal is to prevent hospitals from collapsing. How dramatic is the situation?
A hospital in the canton of Aargau confirmed an occupancy rate of 100 percent yesterday. There are hardly any reserves left in Aargau. The limiting factor is the nursing staff, who have committed and sacrificed in an exemplary manner since the onset of the pandemic and beyond their performance limits. Additionally, there are staff failures suffering from Covid, leading to bed closures. As early as November, it was questionable how long the resistance would last. We need a massive cut in hospitalizations to defuse the situation. Hospitals are already postponing many interventions that are not urgent but necessary, which creates health risks. But even such interventions must be recovered at some point.
Did you get a photo on the site? What impresses you
The tranquility, the team spirit and the high professionalism with which the nursing staff and doctors treat patients. You can see that hospitals learned a lot in the first wave. But at the same time, it is clear that the situation is fragile: a further increase in the number of cases or an increase in staff absences would inevitably lead to disaster. That is why I ask all the residents of Aargau to stay home if possible to stop the virus.
Wasn’t the overload of the healthcare system predictable?
Since late fall, it was clear that a stabilization in the number of cases over a month would lead to an overload at some point. Everyone expected a reduction in the number of cases thanks to the measures taken at that time. We had a high ceiling for weeks, and the hospitals dominated the situation, albeit with great effort.
Looking back, would you step in earlier or do something different?
Had he known two weeks ago that the increase in the number of cases was approaching and stabilizing and that the Federal Council would not take the measures it had announced, he would have opted for a faster approach.
The holidays are just around the corner with no decrease in the number of cases. Can hospitals cope with a further increase?
In my opinion, short-term at best, if it does. That is the reason for the strong new measures.
What is the threat?
Overload of hospital capacity and collapse of intensive care units. That would have dramatic consequences for our population. All Aargau residents must receive the necessary hospital treatment, both in case of illness and accident. That would be in danger.
Have you been surprised that the Federal Council did not go further with last Friday’s adjustment?
I expected it based on the experience of the last few months. That is why I said in AZ last Thursday that the governing council would decide on further action in this case. The Federal Council has closed restaurants, sports, cultural and leisure facilities. The governing council is of the opinion that these measures are insufficient for the canton of Aargau.
How do you explain that the Federal Council has not gone further with the tightening?
I don’t have a conclusive explanation for this and I don’t want to speculate.
