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Restaurants and fitness studios have been closed in Basel since Monday, but not in Baselland. Again, the same crown measures do not apply in the city and the countryside. Basel’s health director Lukas Engelberger (CVP) has to put up with criticism from the economy for his strict course. But the government of the rural canton is under more fire.
Health Director Thomas Weber (SVP) rejects the accusation that Baselland is once again on the sidelines: “In this case, Basel-Stadt decided to go it alone. The proposal to close the restaurants was not a majority in the governments of the other cantons in northwestern Switzerland. “
Weber considers that the current differences are justifiable from an epidemiological point of view: “We have no evidence that the town’s bars, where a maximum of four people sit at a table in compliance with hygiene regulations, are a hot spot for the crown”. If so, I would act immediately.
“Ultimately, each government has to decide for its area”
Although it is difficult to understand from an agglomeration perspective that different crown rules apply in the Dreispitz or in the Dorenbach area on both sides of the border, Weber admits. On the contrary, it would be difficult to convey to the people of Rothenfluh or Roggenburg that the same rules apply to them as in the city. According to Weber, regionally different solutions should be possible. This is explicitly provided for by the Federal Council, he emphasizes. “This is the only way to know which measures are successful and which are not with regard to future pandemics.”
On the contrary, Lukas Engelberger defends the Basel measures. These are public access facilities in which the rules of distance and behavior are less observed. Therefore, we are confident that the measures will lead to a reduction in infections. Engelberger emphasizes that they had exchanged views beforehand with Baselland, other cantons, and the Federal Office of Public Health. “Ultimately, however, each government has to decide for its own canton area, and is responsible for it.”
A common solution would have been important
The declarations of the health directors are badly received by the national advisor of the SP, based in Basel, Eric Nussbaumer: “Also in our region, decision-makers are exaggerating their own cantonal territory and believe that they could control the cross-border pandemic with small-state solutions. ” The fact that different measures are now applied in the two Basles is difficult to understand.
Nussbaumer considers that the fact that governments have not reached an agreement is “shameful”. “A common solution, which would have been a compromise, would have been important for understanding among the population,” says Liestaler.
On Tuesday, the Upper Rhine Council also called for a uniform approach in the main tri-national region. The momentum of the demand is of course different: the Upper Rhine Council explicitly praised Basel-Stadt and thus joined in the hope that the other cantons in north-western Switzerland will follow suit.
Permeability in the region is very high
Basel Council of States Eva Herzog (SP) withdraws with criticism. But he also thinks: “The residents of Basel should be subject to similar measures, since the permeability in our region is very high.” Even in the time of the Crown, thousands of Basel bidders would drive to work in the city or shop here every day.
More liberal rules in the countryside would tend to reduce the effectiveness of measures in the city. Herzog also believes that federalism is an obstacle to fighting the pandemic.
Different rules for “non-serious” pickling
Basel State Councilor Maya Graf (Greens) comments on the differences between city and country in a surprisingly sober way: In principle, she is always in favor of consultation and cooperation, throughout North-West Switzerland. “The fact that the two Basles treat gastronomy differently does not seem serious to me and it is also understandable.” The restaurant scene in the country is manageable. It is important that this does not cause any jerks.
Graf explicitly praises the smooth course in the Basel area, but raises some criticism: “The government should appear more publicly and explain its decisions to the population. Currently, why is he taking a slightly different path from Basel-Stadt. “
