Corona: Major sports events allowed again from October

Events with more than 1000 people are allowed again from October 1st. The Federal Council decided that at its meeting on Wednesday. He is following the request of Health Minister Alain Berset (48, SP), to extend the ban on events by one month.

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In addition, the cantons must approve every major event in future. If the epidemiological situation in a canton or the resources for contact tracing do not permit it, they can also refuse approval.

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Criteria until the beginning of September

Berset’s Interior Department (EDI) wants to set uniform criteria together with the cantons over the next three weeks. Events in the areas of sport, culture and religion are affected.

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“The preparation is now absolutely central for us,” said Federal President Simonetta Sommaruga (60, SP) in front of the media. This is also the reason why the ban has been extended by a month. Actually it would have expired at the end of August. The increasing number of cases in the last few days, however, had nothing to do with the Federal Council’s decision.

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Federal Council outvotes cantons

In contrast to the Federal Council, a majority of the cantons had spoken out in favor of extending the ban until the end of the year. This with reference to the “still unstable epidemiological situation”. They are now responsible for the permits and must monitor compliance with the protection concepts. Not an easy undertaking.

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“After six months of the pandemic, we have to learn to live with the virus,” Berset justified the decision. Society must slowly return to normal. The pressure from the sports associations and festival organizers was also likely to have been decisive. They lobbied heavily for easing.

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Mask requirement on airplanes

At its first meeting after the summer vacation, the Federal Council also imposed a mask requirement on airplanes. “Many airlines already know this today,” said Sommaruga. The measure affects all scheduled and charter flights that take off or land in Switzerland.

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Relief for diplomats

The Federal Council has decided to make things easier for diplomats. They are exempt from the quarantine obligation if they are traveling on diplomatic orders and their entry is necessary for the embassies to function properly.

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700 million for public transport

During the lockdown, public transport demand fell by up to 80 percent. Therefore, the federal government wants to give the battered public transport a helping hand – with around 700 million francs. Local traffic is excluded from this. “This is the responsibility of the cantons and municipalities,” said Transport Minister Sommaruga. The Federal Council is thus opposed to Parliament, which had wanted local traffic to be supported.

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Short-time work remains unbureaucratic

Ultimately, it should still be possible to apply for short-time work as unbureaucratically as possible. Economy Minister Guy Parmelin (60, SVP) announced that the simplified procedure for applying for short-time work should be extended until the end of December. Various cantons had put pressure on the Federal Council in advance because otherwise the bureaucratic effort would increase massively for them. “The extension will make life easier for the cantons,” says Parmelin.

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