Our living space has become a potential group. This is the message French-speaking authorities want to convey as they strengthen their sanitation measures. One-to-one French-speaking cantons, starting with Valais on Wednesday, followed by Jura, Neuchâtel, Friborg, Vaud and Geneva on Friday, all claiming to be faced with a well-known second wave of the coronavirus and fearing their hospitals overload. A certain uniformity is found in their announcements, with particular minor differences between Vaud and Geneva which have not failed to annoy Geneva Council of State Mauro Poggia.

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Preserving the restaurant industry

In Valais, Jura and Neuchâtel, you have to go to dinner early: public places close at 10pm; in Friborg and Geneva, an hour later, and it was in the canton of Vaud that the tables would be able to keep the coffee pushers on at the latest, as restaurants and bars would not have to close until midnight. “These variations can be explained by local realities that may be different,” explained government president Vaud Nuria Gorrite.

“We examined all measures from the point of view of their health relevance. We’ve found that during the last opening hours people consumed more alcohol and this led to behaviors that lowered barrier movement. But in our part of the country we go to restaurants more slowly than in German-speaking Switzerland. Therefore, we wanted to allow the evening service, and let the people quietly finish their food and come home from midnight. The coordination was carried out with other cantons, which took no less than an hour to question this, ”he said.

“We have taken these steps with attention to preserving the economic activity of the particularly affected restaurant sector, noting that the most acute health risks are not present when you eat your fondue or steak, but when you drink well beyond your usual hours. evening service ”, emphasized his colleague Philippe Leuba.

Vaudois’ kindness to his restaurant owner was equally disturbed at the end of the lake. “We just learned that Vaud, the neighboring canton, has set at midnight: we can only regret that there was a different hour,” said Mauro Poggia, announcing the closure of Geneva bars and restaurants at 11pm.

Vaud, a surprising exception

In Jura, Valais, Neuchâtel and Friborg, only a maximum of four people can sit at the same table, except for those who live in the same house. Five for Geneva. Children under 12 do not count. However, their number should not be more than the number of people present. The canton of Vaud appears to be a staggering exception: there is no limit to the number of visitors at the table, “it is up to the owner of the premises to set his own rules,” says Philippe Leuba. For cantons that haven’t already, night bars, nightclubs, discos, or erotic clubs are closed.

In Geneva, five is not more

Geneva stands out as the strictest canton of French-speaking Switzerland. Spontaneous public gatherings and private events may not bring more than five people together. This applies to birthday parties, dining in restaurants, as we have said, gatherings with friends, and even group sports for children, which are becoming prohibited, unlike in the canton of Vaud. Valais, Neuchâtel, Friborg and Vaud limit public and private gatherings to 10 people, Jura to 15 people.

Also read: Shock treatment at Valais to fight the epidemic

Can meet at Christmas

Social life has been hit, from Delémont to Savièse, from La Chaux-de-Fonds to the Grand-Saconnex, the downfall will be long. “These steps are firm, but we hope they succeed in breaking this exponential curve and preventing us from celebrating Christmas via videoconference,” explained Thierry Apothéloz, Geneva State Counsel.

The Geneva provisions will enter into force at midnight Sunday, and will, if all goes well, be repealed by November 30. Vaud will screw up from midnight on Saturday night, with no end date announced: “There are a number of weddings planned for tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, which is why we haven’t planned to enforce all of them. That Saturday morning, for the concrete life of some people, it was inconceivable, “said Philippe Leuba.

Valais is the only canton to close its cinemas and theaters, other cantons allow the cultural sector to breathe, but limit 1000 people to shows and concerts. Neuchâtel prohibited the singing of choirs and brass bands. Vaud is taking new actions affecting schools and this is also an exception in French speaking Switzerland. Wearing a mask is mandatory in class and during courses for students in grades 9 to 11, that is, from 12 years of age. Protection will be provided during the first week, then at the expense of the parents. All camps with accommodation were canceled until the end of the school year, said Cesla Amarelle.

For the Hautes Écoles and the University of Lausanne, high-volume student courses will be conducted entirely remotely from 2 November. Practical lessons, with a reduced number, can be continued face-to-face. Neuchâtel State Council Member Monika Maire-Hefti has announced that a decision regarding possible distance education for post-compulsory education will be taken at the Romand level on Sunday evening.

However, this cantonese nuance gives, more than just a feeling of unity, the idea that each canton intends to defend its prerogative by bragging about what it has learned during the first wave. If the word grope is no longer in vogue, the expression “adjusted action” now seems more fashionable, which does not prevent the feeling of frenzy in the hubbub of the press conference held in weekend urgency.