Switzerland to decide today whether restaurants can reopen in March

Why does the Federal Council say that restaurants will remain closed until April 1st, on which date only foreign countries will be allowed and only if the epidemiology situation in Switzerland allows.

In order for this to happen, a number of criteria must be met: the positive rate of infection must fall below 5 per cent, the seizure of intensive care units from coronary patients must be below 25 per cent, and the RR ladder that shows Covid the ability to spread must be below 1.

While all these conditions are currently met, a number of cantons are urging federal authorities to authorise the reopening of restaurants already in Mars.

Here is a summary of how and when various cantons want to open restaurants, as reported by the SRF public broadcaster:

Valais, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Schwyz, Nedwalden, Glarus and two Appenzels are calling for reopening since March 1st.

Ur and Grabüden are also seeking permission to reopen their foreign areas from March 1st. If that is not possible, the Grabüden government wants at least the possibility of landing near the streets.

Lucerne and Schaffhausen did not specify the date, but both want the spaces of their restaurants opened in March.

Vaud wanted to open at noon from March 15 for lunch service and close at 6 pm, at which time only the service would be allowed to take with him.

Geneva also wants to resume in mid-March.

Ticino and Fribourg are calling for the reopening of 22 March. “Virus is still there, but the situation is under control”, said Ticino cantonal adviser Norman Gobbi.