1. Obligatory mask in public transport from twelve years
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(mg / rwa / sat / dpo / sda / at) Anyone traveling on public transport in Switzerland from July 6th must wear a mask. The Federal Council decided on Wednesday. As of Monday, the mandatory mask applies to people aged twelve and over on trains, trams and buses as well as in mountain railways, cable cars or on ships. Details will be announced on Friday after discussions with the operators of public transport.
It is already clear, however, that fines are not provided for if the mask requirement is not complied with, Federal President Simonetta Sommaruga told the Bundeshausmedien in Bern. Upon request, Peter Füglistaler, director of the Federal Office of Transport, clarified that those who refused could be given a reference by the accompanying staff in public transport. In the worst case, a fine for disobedience threatens.
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2. Quarantine after traveling to risk areas
—-“No isolated cases”: Quite a few people from Switzerland have been infected with the corona virus abroad since mid-June. (Icon image)
© Keystone
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The Federal Council also decided that in future travelers from risk areas will first have to go into quarantine. Specifically, from Monday, those who enter Switzerland from such an area must go to quarantine for ten days. The Federal Office of Public Health will publish a list of such “risk areas”. This should be updated continuously. “It could be Sweden, maybe Serbia,” said Federal Councilor Alain Berset.
Incoming people from such areas are informed when they cross the border and have to report to the cantonal authorities. The airlines and coach companies are also instructed not to transport sick passengers.
3. Income compensation for the self-employed until mid-September
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—-© Gaetan Bally / KEYSTONE
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The wage replacement for self-employed persons is extended until September 16. People in the event area who are in a hardship situation are now also entitled in their own company. These are now treated in the same way as the other self-employed, as the Federal Office of Social Insurance wrote in a communication.
According to the Federal Council, the data subjects do not have to take any special steps; the AHV compensation funds start paying the compensation again. The state government estimates the additional costs to be around CHF 1 billion. No additional credit approval is required for this.
4. 800 million for public transport
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—-© Gaetan Bally / KEYSTONE
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The 120 public and rail companies suffered major financial losses in the corona crisis. According to the public transport operators, there is talk of up to CHF 1.5 billion by the end of the year. Demand has dropped by up to 80 percent. The Federal Council is now rushing to help the public transport industry and has decided on a rescue package worth CHF 800 million. This is to ensure that the companies remain solvent and that the range of transport does not have to be restricted.
In addition, the Federal Council decided to temporarily increase the SBB limits for federal loans from CHF 200 to a maximum of CHF 550 million. This is because the Bundesbahn is in an “acute” liquidity shortage due to the corona crisis, as the Federal Council wrote in a statement. As the owner, the federal government has a responsibility to avoid the company’s insolvency. In the end, the loans effectively applied for by the SBB would receive an interest rate from the federal government.
5. Short-time work allowance for a maximum of 18 months
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—-© Gaetan Bally / KEYSTONE
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The Federal Council has extended the maximum period for receiving short-time work allowances from 12 to 18 months. The extension will come into effect on September 1, 2020 and will apply until the end of December 2021.
“We want to continue supporting the companies in this way so that no jobs are lost,” Economy Minister Guy Parmelin told the media on Wednesday. The Federal Council provides the employer with a grace period of one day. Furthermore, the state government reintroduced the consideration of overtime before the short-time work allowance.
6. Debt reduction: decision postponed to the end of the year
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—-© Anthony Anex / KEYSTONE
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The Federal Council does not intend to decide how to reduce corona debt until the end of the year. Finance Minister Ueli Maurer was confident that no austerity packages are necessary for this. He is budgeting for next year with a deficit of CHF 1 billion.
“We’ll get away with a black eye,” said Maurer. The federal government will be in the red by 2023, but will keep the debt brake. Maurer expects a deficit of CHF 3 to 5 billion this year.
7. Travel restrictions for third countries fall on July 20
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At the same time as the measures are tightened again, the Federal Council is holding out the prospect of loosening the border regime. At the same time as the EU, he wants to lift the entry restrictions for a good dozen third countries.
He took note of the recommendations of the EU Council to lift the entry restrictions for 15 countries. Switzerland is expected to follow these recommendations, the Federal Council wrote in a statement. While the easing in the EU applies from Wednesday onwards, the Federal Council does not want to follow suit until July 20.
In addition, the restrictions should continue to apply to Serbia. Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay as well as the EU countries outside the Schengen area, i.e.Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia, are to be removed from the list of risk countries , Romania and Cyprus. China is also to be removed from the list, provided the same rules apply to those arriving from Switzerland.
8. Subsidy for unemployment insurance during consultation
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As Federal Councilor Parmelin announced, the Federal Council has opened the consultation on additional funding for unemployment insurance (ALV). Previously, the parliament approved a supplementary loan for the ALV of up to CHF 14.2 billion in the summer session. The corresponding amendment to the law is to be dealt with in a special procedure in the Fall 2020 session. The consultation period runs until July 15.
According to the economic department, the ALV’s expenses for short-time work allowances increased to an unknown extent in the corona crisis. Since April, over 190,000 companies have applied for short-time work compensation for 1.9 million employees.
9. Are rents split 40:60?
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The rent for business rents is to be divided between the tenant and the landlord. The Federal Council has sent the relevant submission to the consultation. Tenants should pay 40 percent for the period of the ordered closure or restriction of activity. Landlords would therefore pay 60 percent of the rent. The consultation lasts until August 4.
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