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The city canton introduces the toughest crown measures in German-speaking Switzerland. The governing council declared the new rules on Friday.
On 23 November, all restaurants, bars and other catering establishments in the canton of Basel-Stadt will have to close for several weeks. This was announced by the Basel governing council at a press conference on Friday.
Sports clubs are also affected by the closures; there is a new visitor limit of 15 people for events. Basel-Stadt is the first German-speaking canton to close catering establishments in the wake of the second wave of corona infections. Stores can remain open.
The reason given by the government is the evolution of the number of cases in the canton of the city: they tend to increase in Basel-Stadt, while they decrease in Switzerland. The stricter measures in Basel will initially apply until December 13.
The answer to the question of whether Basel should seek outside help with regard to hospital capabilities or whether patients should move to other regions is denied. “This is not the case currently,” Engelberger says. He points out that more places will be created in intensive care units. It becomes more of a problem with staff, but Basel can still cope, according to Engelberger.
Anne Tschudin ends the press conference. The two councilors say goodbye.
An interrogator wants to know why stores stay open while restaurants and bars are closed. Brutschin says that companies where the majority of contacts can be shown to take place will now be closed.
Do the measures have an impact on Sunday sales? “A good question,” says Brutschin. But there is no reason to disturb people now. He believes that the losses that will undoubtedly result will remain manageable.
An interrogator would like to know if the closure of schools in Basel is being considered. “School closings are not currently a problem,” Engelberger says.
Government councilors are asked what the canton has to say about the crowds in central Basel last weekend. Especially since many passersby did not wear a mask. “It is mandatory to wear a mask on these busy streets,” emphasizes Engelberger. The government also noted that many people did not wear a mask. “That is why there will be a greater police presence this weekend,” Engelberger said.
The question arises as to whether even stronger measures can be expected. “We want to avoid this in any case,” Engelberger said. But: “We have to wait and see.” A new setting cannot be ruled out. “From now on, we are assuming that we will achieve the decisive effect with these measures and that the situation will relax.”
There will be no further measures at the moment in the field of schools.
Engelberger is asked why events are limited to 15 visitors and are not immediately banned. “We don’t want to limit space unnecessarily,” Engelberger says. And he claims that events with a protection concept of up to 15 people are quite possible. “You have to be able to cultivate culture on a small scale.”
Engelberger is asked whether they have agreed with neighboring cantons. “Yes,” Engelberger said. However, it makes it clear that Basel-Stadt is now taking responsibility, the other cantons would have to do the same independently if they wanted to.
“We believe that we have a financial package to cushion the worst consequences for the company”, Brutschin is convinced. It shows again which industries are particularly affected. It is about hotels and restaurants, but also about merchants and showmen. These highly threatened industries should now be supported first. Applications can be redeemed starting next week.
Government adviser and economic director Brutschin is speaking now. He speaks of the fact that the situation is difficult for companies, but financial support from the canton must flow. “It is important that there is no conflict between health and the economy,” Brutschin said. The objective remains for the economy to emerge stronger from this crisis.
According to Brutschin, Basel-Stadt passed an ordinance on a hardship package on November 17. The canton is now contributing 15 million, the federal tranche for the city is 8 million francs. This results in a total revenue of around 23 million for crisis-stricken companies in the city’s canton.
Basel health director Lukas Engelberger (left) and economic director Christoph Brutschin present the new measures in the canton of the city.
Screenshot: Kanton BS
Engelberger stresses that he is aware of the drastic nature of the measures. “But it takes more caution and consideration from everyone to be able to reduce the numbers again.” Everyone faces personal challenges, everyone must make a contribution so that the health system can also be there for everyone in the future.
The casino is now also closed, as are the erotic shops. There is also a new maximum limit of 15 people for events.
Sports facilities are also closed. Gyms, indoor pools, and fitness studios cannot be open for a while. Elementary school sports facilities are excluded.
New measures are yet to come, which will apply from Monday to December 13. The trend in the number of cases should be broken before Christmas, the situation calmed down. The following measures were decided:
– Restaurants are closed
– Excluded from this are: school canteens, street kitchens, hotels, delivery services and take away food.
Basel-Stadt is the first German-speaking canton to close catering establishments in the wake of the second wave of corona infections.
According to Engelberger, the sources of infection are diverse. According to the governing council, most people are infected in their families and in the wild, but there are also other areas that are crucial in this case.
Hospitalizations are also steadily increasing in Basel. More and more people are being treated for the coronavirus in hospitals, and more and more people end up in intensive care units. 29 patients would now be in intensive care units, which is more than in spring, when a maximum of 19 Covid patients were counted in intensive care beds.
Graphics: Canton BS
In addition, the youngest are increasingly affected, three patients in intensive care units are currently between 9 and 14 years old. According to Engelberger, the military got involved and was helping out at the university hospital.
Engelberger immediately intervenes: “It looks even worse than a week ago.” The health director also says that most people now have acquaintances who are sick with the coronavirus.
The development in Basel does not match that of the rest of Switzerland. If the numbers are decreasing in some places in Switzerland, this does not apply to Basel. The 7-day incidence continues to increase steadily.
Graphics: Canton BS
According to Engelberger, the figures would fall for Switzerland as a whole, but not for Basel. More so: there has been strong growth again in recent days. “This is dangerous,” Engelberger said.
Anne Tschudin, Head of Communication at the Basel-Stadt Health Department, opens the press conference. He has already announced that Lukas Engelberger will announce new measures. Christoph Brutschin will then comment on the consequences in the economic field.
