Swiss to shut restaurants, other sites as virus cases climb
The Swiss government says it's ordering shut restaurants, bars, cultural venues and sports facilities next week as the Alpine country grapples with an ongoing rise in coronavirus cases
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Swiss government said Friday it is ordering the closure of restaurants, bars cultural venues and sports facilities next week in a renewed bid to stem a continuing rise in coronavirus cases.
The measure comes barely a week after authorities reopened eateries and watering holes in a wide swath of western Switzerland.
The closures, which take effect on Tuesday and will last through Jan. 22, are necessary because “hospitals and healthcare workers have been under extreme pressure for weeks and the festive period increases the risk of an even more rapid rise in cases,” the government said in a statement.
“The coronavirus is not letting us go during these holidays. The situation remains critical. That's why stricter measures have been decided,” said Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga at a news conference.
“We now need all of Switzerland," Sommaruga said after acknowledging that some regions hesitated more than others about the new restrictions.
The government said that it's looking at new aid for affected businesses and would compensate “cultural actors” for financial losses while expanding eligibility for those in need of urgent aid.
The nationwide measures come amid varying rates of infection in the country that have underscored the complexities besetting policymakers trying to balance public health and economic interests.
Only a week earlier, restaurants in French-speaking parts of western Switzerland began reopening after a six-week closure order as case counts and deaths spiked in late October and early November. Since then, northern areas near Germany have been hard hit, prompting calls for new nationwide measures.
The 7-day rolling average of daily new cases in Switzerland has risen over the past two weeks from about 43 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 3 to just over 50 new cases per 100,000 people as of Thursday.
“The situation and evolution of the pandemic is not meeting our objectives," said Health Minister Alain Berset.
The government is also restricting further the number of people who can be in stores, which must close after 7 p.m. and on Sundays and public holidays.
The federal government left it to Switzerland’s 26 cantons, or regions, to decide whether to close skiing facilities. Their continued operation has raised concerns in several of Switzerland’s neighboring countries, where ski stations have been shut to help prevent the spread of the pandemic.
The new restrictions add to a wealth of measures already in place including limits to the size of both public and private gatherings, broader mask-wearing requirements, a ban on choral singing except at home or school and a call to work from home where possible.
___
Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.