survey
Should Switzerland close its border to Italians?
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SVP politician Marco Chiesa, like his party, demands that Switzerland follow suit. The SVP even wants to use the army for this. Chiesa: «I am disappointed that the Federal Council is only waiting while Austria is taking measures. There are already around 100 cases in Ticino. » Chiesa had already submitted a proposal to close the border on Monday in the Council of States.
Only people who are “absolutely necessary and indispensable for the Canton of Ticino” should be allowed to enter – and then have to stay here. Chiesa specifically mentions workers in the social and health sectors. It is imperative to prevent people from Italy who might spread the virus from entering the country every day, without even knowing it. “70,000 people who enter and leave our canton every day and who also go to infected areas are a risk that we cannot afford and that we cannot and should not expose our population to,” writes Chiesa.
Infectiologist: “We are at the ready in our hospitals”
Not only politicians are calling for the border to be closed, Ticino’s infectious disease specialist Andreas Cerny also supports the idea: “Given the dramatic situation in Italy, we cannot let 70,000 cross-border commuters into Ticino every day,” says Cerny. He is aware that this is a major intervention. But: «We absolutely must prevent a steep increase in new cases, otherwise there is a risk of conditions such as in Italy. We are preparing and less urgent treatments and procedures will be postponed. »
CVP National Councilor Fabio Regazzi in Ticino is now assuming that the border will probably be closed: “The pressure is high, also from the population. But border closure is not as easy for Switzerland as for Austria, as hospitals and retirement homes in Ticino rely on cross-border commuters. » If a border is closed, it will take a little time for companies to prepare for it so that the economy is not brought to a standstill, says Regazzi.
The Federal Council has so far not closed the border
On Tuesday afternoon, the Federal Council sent rumors via Twitter that it would decide on the closure of the border in a crisis session in the evening. André Simonazzi, Vice Chancellor and Federal Council Spokesman, says to 20 minutes: «The Federal Council does not speculate. When he decides, he communicates and justifies these decisions. »
So far, the federal government has ruled out closing the border – even with the border closed, it is impossible to stop the virus, said Daniel Koch from the Federal Office of Public Health at the end of February. When asked about the current situation assessment, the BAG referred to a media conference that will take place on Wednesday.
“It would be wrong to react hectically now”
While politicians from Ticino, in particular, are increasingly vehemently advocating the closure of a border, there are also voices who are against it. “It would be wrong to react hectically now just to be able to show that something is being done,” says BDP National Councilor Lorenz Hess. He doubts that this measure would work: «Over the past few days, tens of thousands of Italians have come to Switzerland. Closing the border now would be useless. »
FDP National Councilor Marcel Dobler agrees: “I call for serenity, not panic. Switzerland is on the right path, the cross-border commuters must still be able to come to Switzerland. » Switzerland is also acting “prudently and cautiously” for the SP National Councilor Barbara Gysi. A ban on entry would, according to Gysi, “certainly have a negative impact on the economy, since we are dependent on foreign workers in various areas”.
(dgr / daw / pam)
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