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In Zurich primary schools, adults must wear protective masks from now on. This also applies as of Thursday in publicly accessible city buildings, health centers and city museums.
In the future with a mask: a look at the exhibition “The Most Beautiful Swiss Books”, held on August 31, 2017 at the Helmhaus in Zurich.
In the fight against the further spread of the coronavirus, the city of Zurich is tightening the requirement for masks in public access city administration buildings, city hospitals and care and elderly centers, in the museums operated by the city and for adults in the buildings of the elementary school and special schools of the city. . The new preventive measure takes effect immediately in schools and will take effect in other institutions on Thursday.
The city council informed the special Covid-19 staff subordinate to the governing council in advance about the additional measures. This did not require the approval of the cantonal government. The city of Zurich is authorized to take additional measures at its institutions, as government spokesman Andreas Melchior said on Monday upon request. The governing council does not want to comment on the decisions of other authorities, he added. At the moment, the government is not planning further measures for the entire canton.
Schools are particularly at risk
Last week, the federal government and the cantons, including the canton of Zurich, relaxed restrictions to prevent further spread of the corona virus. Zurich is now tightening its anti-crown measures. How does that fit in? Filippo Leutenegger (fdp.), Director of the municipal school and the sports department, sees no contradiction in this. The federal government only adjusted the number of participants at major events, but not the minimum distance protection measures and the mask requirement.
Leutenegger says, however, that it has been found that the minimum distance in schools, both between adults and between adults and children, cannot always be observed. That could have drastic consequences. “If someone gets infected at school, entire classes and their teachers have to stay home.” Younger children must be cared for by their quarantined parents, which is a great burden for affected families and also has negative financial consequences.
Leutenegger recalls that last week 254 children from 10 elementary school classes in the canton of Zurich had to be quarantined; 141 of them attend schools in the city of Zurich. Although the number of infections is relatively low at the moment, if the number of reproductions increases, the so-called R-value, this can very quickly lead to major problems. So the city of Zurich threatens to become a hotspot, and schools are a major lever in the spread of the virus. Zurich, as a business location, cannot afford the international travel restrictions as a result of the pandemic.
“Like the obligation of the seat belt”
“Wearing a mask is a hassle and I understand the sometimes violent reactions,” says Leutenegger. “But protective masks help prevent the worst.” Compare the mask requirement with the belt requirement in road traffic. “And the mask requirement will eventually come to an end.”
Filippo Leutenegger
On Friday, parents and school staff were informed by email and letters. In enforcing the adult mask requirement, school authorities want to work with arguments, not sanctions. “We are not policemen”, says Leutenegger and at the same time expresses his confidence that those affected will react to the new regulations with reason and a sense of proportion, as they would in public transport and in shops.
In any case, in class or in childcare, the adult mask requirement only applies if the minimum distance of 1 meter 50 cannot be guaranteed for at least a quarter of an hour. According to the prescribed distance, you can eat and drink in the designated rooms without a mask.
Vote by letter
In the public access areas of the city administration with regular passenger traffic, the mask requirement will apply from Thursday. Consequently, the population is informed with signs at the entrances of counters and corridors. In the healthcare sector, the mask requirement will apply to all employees. In addition, the city council asks voters to vote by letter for the next September 27. For security reasons, only two independent polling stations from constituencies will be available.
