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The case is really clear: France has been registering more than 60 new corona infections per 100,000 inhabitants for days. It is the first neighboring country to exceed the limit that Switzerland has set for risk countries. This would put France on the federal quarantine list. Anyone entering from the neighboring country would have to be quarantined for ten days.
However, to this day, the Federal Council is reluctant to put the neighbor on the risk list. Border cantons, in particular, warn of far-reaching consequences. Tens of thousands of cross-border travelers would also be affected. Therefore, a quarantine obligation would lead to enforcement problems. And probably financial damage too.
Different rules should apply to neighbors
No decision should be made on how to proceed until next week. As reported by the “Tagesanzeiger”, the Minister of Health of the SP, Alain Berset (48), wants to present the corresponding request to the entire Federal Council according to well-informed sources.
Already on Wednesday, Berset let the Bundeshaus media know that a special solution would be sought. He then suggested that France was a special case. Not only do they share a border with the French, but also agglomerations such as Geneva and Basel. The Federal Council is examining possible solutions together with the cantons. But Berset also suggested that the same strict regime will hardly apply to neighboring France as it does to the 50 countries on the risk list.
Regional solutions are also conceivable
The FDP’s Foreign Minister, Ignazio Cassis (59), is said to want to go even further. Therefore, I would prefer to include the exception rule in a decision in principle. In an internal joint report, Cassis proposed that all neighboring countries be exempted from the quarantine obligation with the same preventive measures.
A compromise solution would also be conceivable. Ultimately, the entire Federal Council might also prefer a regionally differentiated solution. Media: For Corona’s “hot spots” like Paris or the south of France, different regulations may apply to regions of the country that are only slightly affected. This would also help avoid major problems with cross-border travelers.
The EU strives for a uniform solution
At the same time, the EU is trying to standardize Corona’s travel restrictions within the Schengen area. Member state ambassadors agreed at a meeting on Wednesday that better coordination was needed.
Today the regulations differ greatly. While many countries such as Switzerland define the number of 60 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants as the cut-off value for risk areas, the cut-off value is significantly lower in other countries. The quarantine period is also handled differently. On Monday, the EU wants to take the first steps towards standardization. (dba)
