Since the new Covid-19 safety measures came into effect Monday morning, several cultural centres have decided to close for the time being as they cannot meet the requirements of having people drinking seated, like the Schüür, and for close good like the Duo Fischbacher Theatre. Others like the Südpol and Neubad are trying to figure out how they can keep their visitors safe whilst offering a varied cultural programme and a fun night out. More decisions will be made later in the week.
Although it is early days, shops are estimating that they are seeing half as many shoppers as before, leading them to worry about how they can survive economically. They are advising people to begin their Christmas shopping now so as to avoid large throngs of people shopping closer to Christmas.
We say please remember to shop local to help small independant businesses.
Restaurants are also already feeling the pinch with many reporting large reservations for Christmas parties being already cancelled.
However, it is good news for those who like to go to Germany to shop. Although there is a 14 day quarantine in place for people living in the cantons of Zürich, Zug, Schwyz, Nidwalden, Uri, Freiburg, Jura, Neuenburg, Geneva and Waadt if going to Germany; the regions of Baden-Württemberg, Saarland and Rheinland-Pfalz have put in place a 24 hour exemption regardless of where you come from in Switzerland. This in order to encourage tourism shopping (to Konstanz for example) and visitors to Europa-Park. Remember that Hamburg and Berlin are on Switzerland‘s quarantine list meaning that should you visit those cities you would have to quarantine for 10 days upon your return.
A 23 year old man died yesterday whilst cleaning out a diesel tank. He was not wearing a protective mask and lost consciousness inhaling the fumes, his colleague who climbed into the tank to help him also lost consciousness. The two men were pulled out but, unfortunately, the one died, whilst the other was able to leave hospital later that day.
