Coronavirus: The Government extends measures until 22 January 2021 and correspondingly increases support contributions for the restaurant trade and hotel industry

Today the Government of the Canton of Basel-Stadt extended the measures currently in force in the Canton of Basel-Stadt to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic up until and including Friday, 22 January 2021. At the same time, the Government has increased the support contributions to the restaurant trade and hotel industry by a further 10.45 million francs. A total support package of 74.5 million francs is therefore available from federal and cantonal funds as part of the on-going financial aid programme. Today the Government finally declared itself in favour of the Federal Government measures plan currently in consultation with the cantons, but proposes bringing it into force earlier, starting this week.

The Government of the Canton of Basel-Stadt today advised on dealing with the further measures to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic that it communicated on 20 November 2020 and that are in force until this coming Sunday, 20 December 2020 (see press releases of 20 November 2020 and 8 December 2020).

Since the stricter measures, in accordance with the Covid-19 ordinance additional measures, came into force it has been possible to slow the increase in new infections and to achieve a certain degree of stabilisation in the hospitals. There has been a slight improvement in the epidemiological situation in Basel-Stadt but it remains very challenging. Further efforts are required to reduce the number of cases. For that reason, the Government is continuing to keep to the stricter measures and they will remain in place until 22 January 2021, in line with the stricter measures of the Federal Government.

Taking into consideration the federal guidelines, the following measures will apply in the Canton of Basel-Stadt from Monday 21 December 2020:

• From 21 December 2020 the regulations of the federal ordinance will apply to events, without any further cantonal regulations. For example, this means that religious services with up to a maximum of 50 attendees are possible.
• Restaurants will remain closed in the Canton of Basel-Stadt. Take-aways may now open between 06.00 and 23.00 hours, but not from 05.00.
• Sports facilities, as well as other facilities such as gaming salons and casinos and interior rooms of recreational and leisure facilities will remain closed.
• Other businesses such as bars and clubs, gaming salons and casinos and interior rooms of recreational and leisure facilities will also remain closed.
• Along with adult entertainment businesses, brothels, cabarets and similar venues are now also closed. Prostitution is also forbidden. The canton is therefore listening to the concerns of the relevant interest groups.

The measures are in place until Friday, 22 January 2021.

Total support package of 74.5 million francs

The Government understands the concerns of the restaurant trade. It is being particularly hard-hit by the coronavirus crisis. For that reason the Government is granting the restaurant trade and hotel industry additional support funds, in light of today’s extension of the measures to tackle coronavirus. For this purpose it is taking a further 10.45 million francs from the fund for tackling unemployment. Together with the 15 million francs already awarded, the cantonal support programme amounts to 25.45 million francs. This is the prerequisite for the Federal Government also increasing financial support. The Canton of Basel-Stadt and the Federal Government are therefore making available a total support package amounting to 74.5 million francs as part of the ongoing financial aid programme.

The support programme has already been running since 23 November 2020. The Government is calling upon restaurants to take up this rapid support and to submit their application. Industry associations and organisations are asked to draw their members’ attention to this offer.

For the Federal Government measures plan

The Government has today finally discussed the Federal Government’s measures plan for containing the coronavirus pandemic that is currently in consultation with the cantons. The Government approves the approach proposed by the Federal Government, but proposes bringing it into force earlier, starting this week. This could favour earlier lifting of the measures.