coronavirus in Geneva: Geneva limits all social life: the list of...

The social life of Genevans is once again getting ready to shrink. From Sunday at midnight and until November 30, their actions will be hampered. The Council of State announced this Friday afternoon a new package of measures intended to curb the epidemic of covid-19, which has accelerated in recent days. State Councilor Thierry Apothéloz spoke of “a serious and dramatic situation” and of decisions taken “to ensure that Christmas is not celebrated by videoconference”. Here are the different measures, which all pursue the same goal, summarized by the President of the Government Anne Emery-Torracinta. “The message to the population is: stay at home!”

Gatherings of more than five people are prohibited in public spaces, especially in squares, walks, parks and at the edge of water bodies. This limitation does not apply to people living together. By gathering, the Council of State means a spontaneous and unorganized gathering of people. He also recalled that in any meeting of less than five people, the distance of 1.50 meters must be respected between individuals.

The Genevans will no longer be able to meet more than five at their home or in any place reserved for the occasion. Children under 12 are not included in this count. However, their number must not exceed that of adults. Birthdays with several toddlers and one or two adults are therefore prohibited. This limitation of private events concerns invitations between friends, family reunions, weddings, baptisms, funerals and birthday parties.

Regarding controls and sanctions, the President of the Council of State Anne Emery-Torracinta insisted on “the individual responsibility” of Genevans. “The goal is not to put a police officer in every family.” His counterpart Mauro Poggia, in charge of Health and Safety, added. “There will be no cohorts of police knocking on doors.” But he recalled that, often, the noise and noise due to the number of guests encourage the neighborhood to call the police. “When the police intervene, if they notice an excessive number of people present, they can distribute fines of up to 10,000 francs.”

Public establishments will close at 11 p.m. Restaurants, cafes, bars and refreshments must limit their tables to five people. Children under 12 are not counted, but their number must not exceed that of other people present. Drinks must be ordered and served at the table.

Mauro Poggia explained that the Council of State had kept in mind that the catering sector, in the broad sense, “had suffered a lot during the first wave. We wanted to allow these activities to continue as much as possible. ” After regretting that Vaud had opted for a later limit, at midnight, he detailed the objective pursued by the authorities at the end of the lake: “that people can go to an establishment, but not to party, because more time passes, the more alcohol consumption increases, the more discipline crumbles. “

The practice of contact sports, combat and amateur team sports is prohibited, including for minors. “When the children are on the field, the adults are there. However, groupings of adults are problematic, explained Thierry Apothéloz. We have chosen to empty the sports fields rather than fill the hospitals. ” Bowling alleys, billiard and game lounges, and escapes and laser games are also closed. Amateur choirs are prohibited.

On the other hand, the Council of State has left the fitness and swimming pools open. If, in general, the collective changing rooms are closed, an exception exists for these two activities, subject to adequate protection plans and an individual area of ​​4 m² offered to each athlete. “The measures target collective activities, which are problematic. Individual activities can and should be encouraged, ”commented Thierry Apothéloz. Mauro Poggia also recalled that it was “wrong to think that there were no clusters in sports activities”, which is why the Council of State had taken these decisions.

Public demonstrations, that is to say organized, are maintained but limited to 1000 people. In other words, professional football and hockey matches can continue to be played at the Stade de Genève and the Vernets ice rink, in strict compliance with the protection plans, including in particular the establishment of sectors of a maximum of 100 people.

Cinemas and theaters can remain open.

“Extracurricular and extracurricular activities are maintained, since they are carried out within the framework of protection plans,” said Thierry Apothéloz. Neighborhood houses and recreation centers also remain open. In general, “all activities aimed at young people remain”.

All employees of the Department of Public Education were notified this Friday that “wearing a mask is compulsory for all adults inside buildings, at all times”, especially in the teachers’ rooms. The only exception: teachers can remove them in class, when they are facing their students and the distance of one meter fifty can be maintained. As soon as they move between desks, they have to hide again.

Regarding the universities, the DIP has taken the decision to let the University and the HES-SO take the appropriate measures themselves. “We don’t want to break the formation. In these schools, there are ex cathedra lessons during which it is relatively easy to keep the distance. On the other hand, for practical work, it can be difficult, ”explained Anne Emery-Torracinta. These institutions will therefore communicate on their side the measures taken.

“The latest figures unfortunately confirm the alarming trend” communicated in the middle of the week, explained Mauro Poggia. Thursday, 692 positive cases were identified in Geneva, “a sad record”. Six deaths occurred in one week. More than 2,000 people were in isolation on Friday, and more than 2,500 in quarantine because of their close contact with patients, not to mention more than 2,000 quarantines due to returns from countries at risk. The state tracing unit currently employs 150 people who work with extended hours.

Mauro Poggia said he was aware of the fact that “there are no painless measures” for the economy, even if the Council of State has sought to limit the damage. The elected official said he was “dissatisfied with the coordination between the Canton and the Confederation. We hope that when measures are taken at the health level, they are immediately accompanied by measures at the economic level. However, so far, the canton has done the broomstick to ensure what the Confederation was not doing. ”