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“We are not in an emergency situation,” health director Jean-Pierre Gallati (SVP) said on Monday when he reported on the current situation of the crown in the canton. “There is no need for further action at the moment,” Canton doctor Yvonne Hummel said at the same news conference.
It was only on Thursday that the governing council wanted to report on any tightening of the crown rules in Aargau, after the regular government meeting on Wednesday. But the Federal Council got ahead of Aargau: on Tuesday night, Federal President Simonetta Sommaruga and Health Minister Alain Berset (both SP) announced a massive tightening of the restrictions applicable at the national level, which should be applied from Saturday .
The Federal Council requires:
- Restaurants, shops and markets, leisure and sports activities close at 7:00 p.m. and are closed on Sundays
- For private events, a maximum of 5 people from two households applies. Celebrations for up to 10 people from December 24 to 26 and December 31 are excluded.
- Public events are prohibited except for religious celebrations and legislative meetings.
- All cultural activities (including school activities) are prohibited. Professional sector events with the public are prohibited.
The Aargau governing council made its position clear in a statement on Wednesday. The new assessment differs significantly from the statements made by Gallati and Hummel on Monday.
The announcement says that the governing council shares the Federal Council’s assessment “that the evolution of the epidemiological situation in recent days requires a tightening of protection measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.”
Canton Aargau proposes certain adjustments
In its statement, the canton of Aargau proposes certain adjustments to the individual proposals made by the Federal Council in the consultation process. Among other things, it suggests the following:
- Catering establishments must also be able to remain open on Sundays and holidays during the opening hours proposed by the Federal Council (until 7:00 p.m.).
- The same regulations should also apply to sports, leisure and fitness facilities.
- Meetings in public spaces will be limited to five people throughout Switzerland.
- In the area of private gatherings, the “five-person-two-household restriction” proposed by the Federal Council will be relaxed during the holiday period from December 24, 2020 to January 1, 2021.
The goal of cantonal crisis management is to prevent further increases in infections and reproductive value or to reduce these indicators significantly. On Wednesday, the canton reported a significant increase with 467 new infections. Currently 198 Covid patients are hospitalized in Aargau, 26 in the intensive care unit. The government affirms that given these figures, it is important to avoid overloading the health system and especially the employees.
Provide additional support to industries that are primarily affected
The governing council also writes that Landammann Markus Dieth, Head of the Department of Finance and Resources (DFR), and Government Counselor Jean-Pierre Gallati, Head of the Department of Health and Social Affairs (DGS), along with government representatives from other German-speaking cantons participated in a conference call over the weekend Have participated in a delegation from the Federal Council. In doing so, they had reported that further comprehensive protection measures were being prepared for the Aargau due to the evolving situation.
The governing council is aware that the new and stricter protection measures will once again have a hard effect on certain industries, specifically in the areas of gastronomy, events, culture, sports and leisure. He hopes that the Federal Council, as announced, will provide prompt and effective assistance in these areas that are the most affected. At best, adapting the hardship ordinance that came into effect last week. Following relevant decisions at the federal level, the Aargau governing council will examine whether additional measures, including financial measures, are needed at the cantonal level. (az / fh / cri)
