Cantons must not shy away from strict measures



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Several cantons have failed in recent weeks and are therefore partly responsible for the sharp increase in the number of cases. Now you have to use your skills and finally take responsibility. Ticino authorities show how it works; but also its population.

The warning level was turned back to orange.  Greater vigilance is also needed in the cantons.

The warning level was turned back to orange. Greater vigilance is also needed in the cantons.

Anthony Anex / Keystone

The latest data from the Federal Office of Public Health shows this impressively: the second wave of the corona epidemic is sweeping through Switzerland in full force. The number of Covid 19 infections has risen sharply in virtually all regions. The summer of carelessness has given way to the gloomy premonition that a dangerous winter is coming. The disaggregated values ​​for each individual municipality provide the cantons with valuable information on how they can fight the epidemic efficiently.

Unfortunately, it should be noted that several cantonal governments have so far not taken responsibility and in some cases simply did not prepare for the second wave. A bad report must be given to some responsible people in central and eastern Switzerland in particular, in those areas that were least affected by the first wave. New hotspots include Illgau in the canton of Schwyz and Hemberg in Toggenburg, areas that were previously not on the radar. The possibility of keeping infections low in rural areas was played frivolously.

This development is mainly due to the fact that the cantons did not use the powers that were transferred to them by the federal government in early June or too late. St. Gallen, for example, did not react independently to the growing number of cases. This, although the close connections and spatial proximity to the Zurich metropolitan area would have led to greater caution. Instead of prescribing specific measures such as wearing a mask indoors, the officials sought a solution for all of eastern Switzerland. But coordination at all costs is the wrong way to control the uncoordinated spread of the virus.

It is even more incomprehensible that the Schwyz government has not reacted for a long time to the rapidly increasing number of sick people. Even when the canton was already negative in the headlines, the government made a secret of the communities in which the new hotspots are located. Instead, the governing council appealed to the highly praised personal responsibility of citizens, which is apparently not the best in central Switzerland either. Even the dramatic appeal of the Schwyz Hospital, which made the rest of Switzerland aware of the seriousness of the situation, failed to get the governing council to tighten the screw. The intervention of the Federal Council was needed to improve the protection of the population.

However, the intervention of the state government does not automatically mean a transition to the extraordinary situation. On the contrary: the Federal Council deliberately remains in the special situation where the cantons continue to have crisis management in their own hands. Cantonal governments should not hide behind the Federal Council, but should use the available scope. So far this has been done mainly by Bern health director Pierre Alain Schnegg, with his unpopular and therefore courageous ban on major events with more than 1000 spectators. This has brought much criticism to the SVP politician. The number of cases in the coming weeks will show whether this restriction is justified.

Ticino also shows that it can be successful with cuts. The canton, which was badly affected in the spring, currently has the situation under control. The impact of the first wave made the population cautious, so most Ticino people are taking their own responsibility. The government is also cracking down. By the beginning of October, all the clubs, discos and dance halls were closed. If the situation does not calm down quickly in other regions, those consistent steps are necessary there as well.

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