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The Federal Council proposes three packages of measures to the cantons that would be taken if the situation of the crown worsens. Unless the situation drastically deteriorates in the next four days, a complete lockdown is not a short-term option.
According to the consultation documents that the Tamedia portals made public on Monday night, the Federal Department of the Interior (FDHA) suggests that a tightening of the measures should not be discussed until December 28, that is, after Christmas. The documents are also available from the Keystone-SDA news agency.
The stricter measures will only be discussed on Friday if the number of views “increases rapidly and strongly.” In concrete terms, doubling the times to two weeks or less “would provoke the need for a more in-depth discussion.” For example, the number of views (R-value) should increase from the current 1.13 (December 4 estimate) to 1.2.
- Scenario of “restaurant closures” If that does not happen, the Federal Council will not reassess the situation until December 28. Until then, the value of R must be below 1 and the number of cases must decrease again. “If this is not the case and the numbers continue to rise at the end of December, further measures are indicated,” the document says. The goal is to achieve an R value of 0.8, that is, to cut the number of cases in half every two weeks. Specifically, there are three levels of escalation. If the R-value has been greater than 1 for three days on December 28, or if the intensive care beds are occupied above 80 percent, then under EDI’s proposal, the restaurants would be closed. There are exceptions, for example, for take-out and delivery companies, as well as for hotel guests. Sports and leisure centers would have to close completely. Only activities such as jogging and cycling would be allowed outdoors, as well as group training for up to five people. Cultural, leisure and entertainment facilities will also be closed.
- “Stay home” scenario: The second package of measures, with an R-value greater than 1.1 or 85 percent intensive care bed occupancy, foresees additional restrictions. Stores and markets would be closed on weekends, for example, and there would be severe capacity restrictions during the week. In this scenario, as in the spring of 2020, risk groups would be specifically protected, “without discriminating against them.” The population would be explicitly asked to stay home.
- “Lockdown” scenario: If the R-value is higher than 1.2 on December 28, or if intensive care beds are used by more than 90 percent, the third package of measures would come into play: the (partial) lockdown. Stores should close. The cantons can comment on two variants regarding the exceptions.
These are the exceptions:
Variant one provides exceptions for stores where at least two-thirds of their turnover comes from food and other goods for daily use. The ban on Sunday sales would be lifted for these stores.
Variant two provides exceptions only for the sale of everyday goods. Stores that also carry other products should cover the appropriate shelves. The ban on Sunday sales would also be lifted for these stores.
In this epidemiological situation, private events should be held with a maximum of ten people from two households. Only a maximum of ten people can meet in public spaces.
Ski areas not directly affected
Under EDI’s plans, personal services such as hair salons, tattoo studios, erotic shops, and physical therapy would not be affected by the respective restrictions. They were still allowed with adequate protection concepts.
The closure of the ski areas is also not part of the package of measures. It is the task of the cantons to approve the protection concepts only if the requirements detailed in the ordinance are ensured, according to the consultation documents.
“However, it should be noted that if more federal action is taken, the closure of the ski areas should also be considered by the Federal Council.” For example, according to the federal government, it would be difficult to explain that ski areas must remain open despite store closings.
Continuous assessment
The cantons can comment on the federal proposals until Tuesday night. The Federal Council will discuss this on Friday.
In accordance with the currently proposed schedule, the Federal Council will reassess the epidemiological situation shortly after the turn of the year, on January 5, and take action if necessary, specifically if a halving period of more than one month remains a reality. One of the three packages of measures would also come into play, with slightly adjusted threshold values.
In the first half of January, the Federal Council also wants to “present a plan for the next steps until spring 2021 in a package of winter measures.”
