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The canton reported 21 new cases in the last 24 hours on Friday morning. In Switzerland and Liechtenstein there were 340 new cases of the disease that tested positive. “Taking into account epidemiological developments and after carefully weighing interests (including economic aspects, for example), the canton of Solothurn has also decided to extend the requirement for masks,” the canton of Solothurn said on Friday. Solothurn is the ninth canton to introduce a requirement to wear a mask.
The government has been discussing mandatory masks for a long time, health director Susanne Schaffner said in an interview with this newspaper. There were regular exchanges on this subject with neighboring cantons in order to find a common strategy on the subject of masks. After the canton of Basel-Stadt ordered a mask to be worn in stores a few days ago, Solothurn is now doing the same without waiting for the Aargau or the canton of Basel-Landschaft. “We concluded that we weigh the epidemiological situation differently,” Schaffner said.
The canton had the greatest concern about the obligation to wear a mask in stores to representatives of regional trade. “Among other things because Solothurn borders several other cantons and there is fear that the population will then go shopping in other cantons,” says the health director. However, based on the comments of the population, he assumed that the obligation to wear a mask would be accepted. “For example, the behavior of commuters on public transport shows that this protective measure meets understanding,” says Schaffner.
The mask requirement is mandatory here:
- In the interiors of shops and public access centers, the use of a mask is mandatory for everyone.
- In the general visitor steps of shopping centers that do not belong to a specific store or service establishment, everyone should always wear a mask.
These stores are considered stores:
- Grocery stores (including bakeries, butchers, wine merchants, etc.)
- Shoe stores and clothing stores, sporting goods, florists, bookstores, hardware stores, and garden and furniture stores.
- Pharmacies, drug stores, and medical aid stores (for example, glasses and lenses, hearing aids).
- Stores of service stations and points of sale of telecommunications providers.
There is no mask requirement here:
- Stores where customers are only outdoors are exempt from the mask requirement. This category includes, for example, weekly markets and kiosks.
- Service companies (eg post offices, banks, travel agencies) are also excluded.
The following are exempt from the mask requirement:
- Children before their 12th birthday,
- People who for special reasons, especially medical, cannot use masks. The medical certificate is mandatory.
- Employees or store owners who come into contact with customers, as long as they are protected by a partition (for example, Plexiglas) or an equivalent protection device.
(rba / sks)
