The price for a pack of 50 masks is now around 35 francs. For comparison: During the swine flu in 2009 it was just under 5 francs. That is why Caritas provides masks for free in its shop. «The masks are for people who are poor or at risk of poverty. Additional costs are a burden. Caritas has the option of handing in masks and we are happy to do it accordingly. »
Caritas received the masks through donations. They are distributed at the checkout in the Caritas market. Caritas can bring up to 100,000 pieces to the people in the next few months. “Caritas is careful that people with a tight budget are not passed on with additional costs, which is why Caritas has made every effort to ensure that customers get masks for free.”
Every twelfth Swiss citizen affected
The Swiss conference for social welfare SKOS advocates that cantons and municipalities hand over protective masks to social welfare recipients. Social welfare provides CHF 40 a month for health care. The Caritas director also feels that a state surrender of masks is necessary if the obligation to wear masks should continue for a longer period or should be extended to other areas. “Then, in the worst case, it would be the state that would have to provide support.”
Every twelfth person in Switzerland is affected by poverty. This is a number that dates back to before Corona. There is a risk that a long-term or ever widening mask requirement will exclude people affected by poverty from public life.
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