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The trend is clearly upward, but development differs from region to region, Federal Councilor Alain Berset said this week. A look at the figures from the Federal Office of Public Health shows that the differences are indeed considerable. In the last two weeks, three cantons were responsible for half of the cases: Zürich, Waadt Y Geneva. Together they reported more than 3,300 cases in 14 days.
While Vaud was able to reduce the number of cases somewhat after introducing new measures, they have risen in Geneva and Zurich in recent days. However, when it comes down to the number of residents, some smaller cantons are not doing well (see map), including some rural ones, although a group with several affected people is more significant for small cantons.
The current situation in the cantons:
Bern and Zug are responding to a growing number of cases
The number of cases is comparatively high in Schwyz, Nidwalden and Zug, for example. The latter went on the offensive on Wednesday: as of Saturday, a mask requirement applies in Zug stores. The Canton of Bern goes even further: as of Monday, masks must be worn in all “public access interiors”. In addition to shopping, this also includes museums, places of worship, and train stations. In restaurants, bars and nightclubs, guests can only remove the mask when they are sitting at the table.
“The mask requirement is also a sign that the virus is still there,” said Bern health director Pierre Alain Schnegg (senior vice president). He called on the population to follow the rules of distance and hygiene: “It would be a shame if we had to introduce strict rules, even for smaller groups, for reasons of neglect and a certain laissez-faire approach.”
Schwyz sees no use in wearing a mask
The requirement for masks in stores already applies in the cantons of western Switzerland, as well as in Zurich, Basel-Stadt, Solothurn and Valais. The Conference of Cantonal Directors of Health (GDK) recommended this in mid-September as a possible measure for cantons particularly affected.
However, some do not want to know. The canton of Schwyz, which is also relatively severely affected, does not require a mask. The reasoning:
What are Basel, Lucerne, Thurgau and Aargau doing well?
It is noteworthy that some cantons such as Ticino, the two Basel, Lucerne, Thurgau and Aargau currently have a low number of cases measured in terms of population. As the third largest city in the country, Basel in particular is surprising. What are these cantons doing well? Basel, Aargau and Lucerne refer to measures taken on request.
Lucerne government adviser Guido Graf says that the comparatively low number of cases in the canton can be assumed to be the result of various protection measures. “However, emphasizing individual factors would be insufficient.” In addition, the discipline of the population certainly also plays a role in enforcing the rules of distance and hygiene.
In Aargau too, the measures are said to be working. However, Michel Hassler, spokesman for the Aargau Health Department, establishes a restriction:
Therefore, sooner or later an alignment with other cantons would be expected, he says. “Basically the virus is likely to spread better in metropolitan areas due to the higher density of people, but of course there is a bit of a coincidence,” Hassler said.
Despite the increasing number of cases in Switzerland, the Conference of Cantonal Directors of Health remains convinced that it is correct to leave the scepter in the hands of the cantons: “It is still the right way for the cantons to adopt measures adapted to the circumstances respective. “The cantons continually expanded their contact tracing capabilities as needed and adapted to the situation.
