The corona numbers are increasing – and with that, the mask is making a comeback. For now, wearing a mask indoors is usually just a recommendation. However, individual cantons have reintroduced the obligation to wear masks in certain areas, for example in hospitals or old people’s homes.
In view of the autumn wave that is building, the obligation to wear a mask is also a hot topic in the military at the moment. According to the Coordinated Federal Medical Service (KSD), the situation is being closely monitored. Anticipate the epidemiological situation and assess the need for any further measures within the army at Defence.
And what’s in the train?
With the end of the autumn holidays and fuller commuter trains, wearing a face mask in public transport is coming back into the picture. As a reminder: In the Corona year 2020, a national mask obligation was first imposed on public transport. And only lifted again in April of this year after 21 months – it fell as the last corona measure.
Now the question arises again. Do the authorities continue to rely on voluntariness and therefore on the passengers’ own responsibility? Or should it again become a nationwide masking requirement for public transport – as in Germany. Experts such as the Ticino infectiologist Andreas Cerny (65) argue for the latter.
Public transport industry defends itself against the obligation to wear mouth caps
A question that encounters resistance in public transport. “We are very critical of a mask requirement in public transport,” said Ueli Stückelberger, director of the Association of Public Transport (VÖV), in the “Tages-Anzeiger”. The association firmly rejects the reintroduction of the mask requirement.
The public transport information service (Litra) sounds similar. Its president Martin Candinas (42) pleads to remain calm. According to the Central National Council of Graubünden, there is currently simply no reason to reintroduce the obligation to wear masks. Anyone who wants to wear a mouth cap can do so today. This arrangement has proven its worth in recent months.
There are also financial reasons behind the resistance. The Corona years have caused significant losses, the number of passengers has decreased enormously. The recovery only started this year when the measures were lifted. “A mask requirement would once again jeopardize this uptrend,” Stückelberger warns. He even speaks out against a mask recommendation because it would only “cause confusion”.
Bund holds back
The associations do not have to fear a comeback of the public transport mask obligation for the time being. Because only the federal government could order such a measure throughout Switzerland. But he holds back and wants to leave the decisions to the cantons. These in turn want to avoid a cantonal patchwork quilt as much as possible.
On Thursday, the head of the cantonal health directors conference met with health minister Alain Berset (50) for an exchange. The mask issue will be a point of discussion.
However, no concrete measures are expected. At most a recommendation that face masks are mandatory – but not in public transport, but in healthcare institutions. (rus/SDA)