Commentary on the Federal Council's road map out of the lockdown

On April 9, 2020, a Open lettersigned by Kummli Netzwerk GmbH, the umbrella of a network of entrepreneurs operating throughout German-speaking Switzerland, to the Federal Council as a whole. In it, statements of various SME entrepreneurs were quoted and the specific demand was addressed to the national government to restart the economy as early as April 20.

Road map with gaps

Since April 16, we can now ask ourselves: Has the Federal Council met the demands of the business community, especially those of SMEs? The answer must be no: The positive thing is certainly that there is now a road map with a clear definition of time stages. The requirement that workers be able to return to their jobs step by step in compliance with the necessary precautionary measures and hygiene regulations has been met in principle. However, there is already a problem with the lifting of store closures: while DIY stores, garden centers, flower stores and hairdressers' salons are allowed to reopen, many other specialist stores, fashion boutiques, furniture stores and the like must remain closed. This is causing incomprehension among industry associations. Kaspar Engeli of Handel Schweiz: "700,000 people work in retail. This makes retail the largest private employer in Switzerland. If all stores are open, wholesale trade also functions more easily. The opening of trade is now happening far too hesitantly!" The Swiss Trade Association is also sharply critical: "Unacceptable" is this decision and a "massive discrimination" of the SME trade, it says in a media release of the sgv. Especially since many retailers would be well prepared for a "Smart Restart", as we have seen in the past. already reported here have. It seems that the Federal Council did not hear all the voices - or did not want to hear them. The sgv is therefore also unequivocally calling on the Federal Council to return to the decision it has now taken. In fact, the Federal Council's decision could accelerate the decline of stationary trade. It is to be hoped that the much-cited solidarity in society will now go so far as to support local businesses with customer loyalty.

Non-decision for gastronomy

For the catering industry, on the other hand, April 16 was a "day of no decision": the GastroSuisse industry association is accordingly very disappointed and does not understand why the Federal Council has not yet given the catering industry a perspective after which many other commercial enterprises can now go back to normal. "We have always stressed that it is up to the Federal Council to determine when to reopen," notes GastroSuisse President Casimir Platzer. "However, with the non-communication, the Federal Council leaves us completely in the dark and without perspective," he criticizes the Federal Council's communication. Indeed, it is certainly not easy to ensure that hygiene and distance rules continue to apply in restaurants or bars. "Who wants to drink a beer with two meters distance with other people?" said Federal Councilor Alain Berset in an interview with SRF's Tagesschau. But here, too, the restaurant scene certainly has suggestions at the ready as to how a - at least partial - return to normal operations would be possible: "Our proposal, which we have submitted to the Federal Council, for example, is that we limit the number of guests per square meter," says Casimir Platzer. "In addition, there needs to be a minimum distance between tables and a requirement to wear protective masks at least behind the scenes. In service, masks should only be worn if the distance rules cannot be observed. Alternatively, you can serve at the counter or at a side table."

The economy must also remain healthy

The Federal Council's road map focuses on people's health. In principle, this should not be changed. After all, a national government also has a "duty of care" toward its citizens, just as an employer has toward its employees. However, it must be remembered that a healthy economy is also needed so that people become less ill. It must therefore not be the case that a prolonged lockdown fuels a deep economic crisis with all its possible health and social consequences: Depression, burnouts and other mental illnesses triggered by existential fears, an increased suicide rate, more social cases, social tensions. In the long run, the costs of these consequences will probably be more expensive than a few thousand Covid 19 cases.

Nevertheless, the conclusion to be drawn is this: The Federal Council is staying true to its line, acting prudently from an overall perspective and not attempting any "hair-splitting" exercises. Nevertheless, it cannot please everyone. In particular, the decision regarding the retail trade does not seem logical. However, all sectors should now make equal use of the stages that have now been defined in order to continue to prepare optimally for the post-Corona phase. This is coming, even if not everyone can currently agree with the path that the Federal Council has taken to get there.