The corona virus hits the canton of Ticino with full force. It currently counts over 2200 cases. The southern canton alone records around a third of all deaths in Switzerland. If, as is the case every year, tourists from German-speaking Switzerland drove to the Swiss Sonnenstube en masse over the Easter days, the Ticino health system was in danger of collapsing. For fear of the “Easter current”, the mayors of the Malcantone therefore demand that the access roads via the St. Gotthard and the San Bernardino be closed.
survey
How important is it to you to be able to travel over Easter?
–
–
–
Stefan Blättler, President of the Conference of Cantonal Police Directors, also urged Thursday’s media conference to warn of unnecessary travel. “Now is not the time to enjoy the region and the special flair of Ticino.”
Tourists are approaching earlier
Astrid Longariello from Brissago believes it is imperative to close the access roads. She has the impression that certain tourists are already on the move, says the journalist with Lucerne roots. On Wednesday, she noticed a car with a Zurich and one with a St. Gallen number in her area, where there are many holiday apartments.
“Because the Federal Council said that you shouldn’t go to Ticino over Easter, tourists will probably come earlier,” suspects Longariello. She warns: “Going to Ticino at the moment is simply dangerous.” If a large number of tourists came, the virus would spread even more in the southern canton and overload the hospitals.
“Like in a disaster film”
According to Longariello, life in Ticino is currently not feeling good. “You feel like you’re in a disaster movie.” The fear of people can be felt everywhere. “When two people talk to each other here, they keep at least five meters away.”
Outside, the mood is eerie, says Longariello. «The streets are deserted. If you don’t have a dog and are outside for too long, you will be looked at wrongly. » She also cuts short the walks with her two dogs. She also repeatedly witnesses how the ambulance picks up infected people in their quarters. “You get goose bumps.”
For Longariello it is clear that tourists would immediately regret their trip to Ticino. «You will only be bored here. The Ticino would also let the guests feel that they are not welcome in this crisis. »
Vacation guest waived
W. G. * (58) from Wettswil am Albis ZH has owned a holiday apartment in Ascona for ten years. He won’t be going to Ticino next Easter, says the asset manager. «You don’t go to Ticino in such a situation. You wouldn’t make friends there either. » He asks all vacation home owners to do the same.
Holiday guests like W. G. also act in the sense of the tourism industry. In his # stayathome campaign, Ticino Turismo appeals to stay at home. A video greeting on behalf of the Sonnenstube in Switzerland asks the German-speaking Swiss: «I have no expiry date. I remain. For this moment, please stay at home so that we can all enjoy the beauties of our country and those of Ticino together as quickly as possible. A presto! »
Tips for that Ticino feeling
If you can’t wait, you might want to bring the Ticino flair home over Easter. Jutta Ulrich, media spokeswoman for Ticino Turismo, recommends having a bag of rice from Terreni alla Maggia delivered to you for a porcini mushroom risotto, or ordering wine from Ticino. Hotels like the Eden Roc in Ascona would put recipes for recooking online. According to Ulrich, you can also beam well into Ticino with the crime novels by Andrea Fazioli or the book “The Ice King from the Blenio Valley” by Anne Cuneo.
