Easter, 09.04.2020

If you love Ticino, stay at home

Over the Easter holidays, the police in Göschenen will stop every car. Those who are not on an essential journey will be advised to turn back.

Shortly before entering the Gotthard Tunnel in Göschenen, a policeman with a warning jacket stands on the road. He stops all the motorists, and only allows those with a Ticino or Italian number plate to pass. Those involved in the movement of goods or commuters are also allowed to continue. All the others have to leave the highway at the checkpoint. A handful of police officers, also dressed in yellow and orange luminescent vests, are already waiting there. They will talk to the motorists, appeal to their consciences and distribute flyers.

The message on the flyers reads: "This is not the right time to visit Ticino. Restaurants, hotels and campsites are closed. Please stay at home”. The cantonal authorities "urgently" recommend that non-cantonal guests should not stay in Ticino or drive through the canton or engage in leisure and sports activities during the Easter holidays and "until further notice". The police thereby want to encourage travellers to turn back during the Easter days – whether they actually do so is up to the drivers, however.

Uri police expect almost 90 percent fewer cars than usual over Easter
The controls are part of a campaign by the cantonal police in Uri and Ticino to raise awareness of the situation. The same scene can be seen in front of the San Bernardino Tunnel, where the Graubünden Police are on duty. At Tuesday's media conference, Gustav Planzer, media spokesman for the cantonal police in Uri, appealed to the people's own responsibility. He continues to hope for great solidarity – so far, the traffic load has decreased by almost 90 percent compared to the previous year.

Daily checks are taking place In front of the Gotthard Tunnel over Easter. The goal: as few people as possible should travel to Ticino.

In the week leading up to Palm Sunday, 55,391 cars drove south on the A2 from Wednesday to Sunday of last year. This year there were only 6,144 vehicles. There were 62,073 cars on the section during Easter week In 2019. Due to the Corona virus emergency, the cantonal police in Uri therefore expect an estimated 6,500 cars this year from Thursday to Monday.

The recommendations are also aimed at persons with a second home in Ticino
During the festive season, the motto is no longer just "Stay at home", but "If you love Ticino, stay at home now". This was also confirmed by Marco Guscio of the Ticino cantonal police. He specifically addresses the "friends from German-speaking Switzerland and Romandie" – only in this way can Ticino be helped. "We live from tourism, but not now," says Guscio, adding: "Just a few minutes ago, Ticino recorded the 200th death due to the corona virus."

The recommendations also apply to persons with a second home in Ticino. Planzer explains: "Every additional person who is in Ticino puts an additional burden on the infrastructure. And the burden on health care is already enormous."

There is no road closure or a ban, however, as the legal basis for this is lacking. "We have clarified this once again," says Planzer. The federal government is convinced that the appeal to the population to stay at home over the festive season is the right course of action. The hands of the cantonal police are therefore bound.

Any person who turns back after the check "is a gain"
Following the media conference, Planzer reassures us that the police are doing their best to ensure that the situation in Ticino is not further aggravated. Checks are carried out eight hours a day – when experience shows that the most drivers are on the road. In order to protect the police officers from infection, they have been provided with protective masks, gloves and disinfectants. "They can decide whether and when they use them according to the situation. The most important thing is still the necessary safety distance, which must always be maintained," says Planzer.

The spokesman could not estimate how many people the officers will actually be able to persuade to reconsider their decision and turn back. What is certain, however, is that "any person who changes their mind because of our checks is a gain."

Read the ticker: the important points from the media conference