Dispatches from Switzerland: Our columnist writes about life under the coronavirus pandemic with Italy's worsening situation right next door.
FRIBOURG, Switzerland — My nine-year-old daughter came home from school on Friday afternoon with the news that she will not return there for 7 weeks, an extra-long closure introduced hours ahead of the federal measures in several cantons. “I feel like I could laugh or puke or cry,” she told me.As one of the top 10 most affected countries worldwide, Switzerland has seen a rapid increase in cases of coronavirus since its first case was confirmed on Feb. 25.
Dispatches from the front lines of a pandemic: ‘Retired doctors have been asked to go back to work.’ Italy’s lockdown hasn’t had much impact — yet For the moment, it’s not a full lockdown. Although public and private gatherings of more than 100 people are now banned, companies and workplaces will remain open, as will restaurants, bars and clubs. The latter group will have to observe “social distancing” guidelines and may not have more than 50 people on the premises including staff.
Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga also took part in the press conference. Speaking fluently in German, French and Italian she repeated the core message of reassurance three times: “The situation is serious but we have the medical and financial means to deal with it.” The entertainment and leisure sector was one of the first to suffer early into the crisis and special funding has been set aside for these companies and clubs as well as the self-employed. The tourism sector is also experiencing a collapse in bookings.
Many lightweight exports, for example machine parts and pharmaceuticals, are exported on passenger flights. The longer the restrictions are in place, the more damaging it will be to supply chains and earnings.
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