Geneva grows increasingly concerned about partygoers from France
From August 4th, the French Haute-Savoie region has introduced a mask requirement for groups of 10 or more gathering in outdoor public spaces. Consequently, Geneva authorities are now expecting more people from France to come into the city to avoid the rule.
The mask requirement was introduced to curb the increasing Covid-19 infection rate in the French department, along with some other areas of the country.
It will be in force for a period of one month, and apply to everyone over the age of 11.
As a result of this measure, Geneva authorities are expecting that more people from Haute-Savoie, which lies at the Swiss border, will come to the city so they can congregate in larger groups.
In fact, the mountainous French region is located so close to Switzerland, that over 125,000 people cross the border each day to work in the Lake Geneva region.
READ MORE: How Switzerland's cross-border workers are growing in number
The canton allows get-togethers of up to 300 people. Masks are required only in shops, on public transport, and at the airport.
Geneva is closely monitoring the situation related to the Covid-19 epidemic in the neighbouring France, but for the time being “the canton will not react in haste" to this development, State Councilor Mauro Poggia said in an interview with Tribune de Genève.
At the moment, “we will not overact. The situation does not justify closing of the borders”, he added.
Such a drastic decision would have to be made by the federal government, and not cantonal authorities.
However, Poggia pointed out that the situation may cause problems because virus tracing in the border region “is complicated”.
“When positive cases are found in France, it is impossible to conduct contact tracing in Geneva, because we are not informed", Poggia said.
“The juxtaposition of separate legal systems does not facilitate coherent health policies", he added.
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The mask requirement was introduced to curb the increasing Covid-19 infection rate in the French department, along with some other areas of the country.
It will be in force for a period of one month, and apply to everyone over the age of 11.
As a result of this measure, Geneva authorities are expecting that more people from Haute-Savoie, which lies at the Swiss border, will come to the city so they can congregate in larger groups.
In fact, the mountainous French region is located so close to Switzerland, that over 125,000 people cross the border each day to work in the Lake Geneva region.
READ MORE: How Switzerland's cross-border workers are growing in number
The canton allows get-togethers of up to 300 people. Masks are required only in shops, on public transport, and at the airport.
Geneva is closely monitoring the situation related to the Covid-19 epidemic in the neighbouring France, but for the time being “the canton will not react in haste" to this development, State Councilor Mauro Poggia said in an interview with Tribune de Genève.
At the moment, “we will not overact. The situation does not justify closing of the borders”, he added.
Such a drastic decision would have to be made by the federal government, and not cantonal authorities.
However, Poggia pointed out that the situation may cause problems because virus tracing in the border region “is complicated”.
“When positive cases are found in France, it is impossible to conduct contact tracing in Geneva, because we are not informed", Poggia said.
“The juxtaposition of separate legal systems does not facilitate coherent health policies", he added.
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