Nightlife entrepreneurs criticise the government council

Not everyone is pleased about the tightened corona measures. The Health Director defends his position. But it’s not possible to say how many contagions there have been in clubs and bars.

From 13 July, the canton of Zug has had the toughest corona-related requirements for nightlife in Switzerland. As elsewhere, 100 people are still allowed to attend events, but only 30 of them are allowed to stay indoors in establishments with "no fixed seats".

This is, of course bad news for event venues. Philipp Waldis, the owner of the largest club in Zug, the Lounge&Gallery (L&G) with 900 seats, speaks clear words: "The governing council (Regierungsrat) simply did not consider the consequences of its decision." Waldis fears that there will be "club tourism" between the cantons. "Young people are looking for social closeness. If they don't find this in Zug, they will just go to Zurich, makes it even more of a hotspot for infections," he says.

Despite several prominent incidents involving serious contagion in clubs in Zurich, the Federal Council's requirements continue to apply. 300 people are therefore admitted to events without further conditions. In addition, Waldis fears that there will also be "illegal parties without any contact tracing".

No discussions with the canton
Even disregarding this, the tightened measures will ruin the Zug nightlife industry, he explains: "The restriction to 30 people in the interior is completely disproportionate. This effectively makes it impossible to operate." In principle, Philipp Waldis does not oppose requirements stricter than those of the Federal Council, but he adds: "No one from the Canton of Zug spoke to the club and bar operators when defining the measures. If we had been involved in this, we would have found a workable solution together, with a corresponding protection concept."

Photo 1: Such images will no longer exist from Zug clubs – here the Lounge&Gallery – and other venues.
Photo 2: Health director Martin Pfister has understanding for the annoyance
Photo 3:The observance of the required social distance of one and a half metres between guests is hardly enforceable in the Chollerhalle.

The L&G operator is now in contact with health director Martin Pfister (see box). He hopes to encourage him to work together with the clubs in adapting the measures. In addition, Waldis is seeking financial compensation from the canton for the loss of sales. This is based on a report published by Walter Fellmann, Professor of Private Law at the University of Lucerne, in the online trade magazine "Jusletter" in mid-June. In this report, the lawyer explains why he considers the companies affected by the Corona measures should be entitled to state and cantonal compensation.

Working seven days a week
Helena Todorovic, on the other hand, is hoping above all for good weather. The owner of the Topas Club says she is still managing to make ends meet, thanks to the Panorama bar in the "Schiff” in Zug, which she also runs. But this is only the case when the sun shines and the terrace can be used, and when people make use of the tables set up along the lake, thanks to the temporary permission from the city council.

The bar was able to reopen at the end of May, and she has since been working on a daily basis, and always alone. This is so that the staff can continue to work on short-time and she is relieved of their financial burden. The Topaz, on the other hand, remains closed until further notice, and Helena Todorovic has cancelled all the events.

Because of the tightened protection measures in the canton of Zug, she also sees many difficulties for club operators: "It’s impossible to work profitably under these conditions. The situation threatens their very existence." She expects the nightlife situation will not get back to normal until the spring of 2021 at the earliest.

Nevertheless, Helena Todorovic appears calm when she talks about it. The reason for this is that she considers health to be paramount. "I don't want to take the risk of spreading the contagion in my club," she says. That’s why, with one exception, she hasn’t re-opened the Topaz, even before the measures were tightened up.

The "Chicago" in Zug has re-organised itself with seats and service, as it did after the first easings after the lockdown had ended. According to the managing director René Hürlimann, this would allow between 50 and 70 people to enter the restaurant, depending on the group size.

Event halls are also affected
The stricter requirements could also have an impact on the programme in the Agerihalle. Joélle Guldin, the media spokeswoman for the municipality of Unterägeri, which operates the hall, says that they already have two sold-out events: the performances of comedians Mike Müller (30 August) and Kaya Yanar (11 September). A full house is equivalent to 900 seats or 1,000 standing places. The managers of the Ägerihalle will discuss the next steps in the coming week, and communicate any changes on their website.

The best known event hall in the canton is the Chollerhalle in Zug, with 1,100 seats. Its managing director, Graziano Grieder, appreciates the measures to contain the virus, but calls for a uniform solution throughout Switzerland. This is for the same reasons as those mentioned by L&G operator Waldis: "nightlife tourism". Grieder also speaks out openly about what many people think:

"It's very frustrating that new guidelines or instructions arrive from somewhere week after week. This makes our daily work extremely difficult, as we have absolutely no planning security."

The start of the season in the Chollerhalle in the first weekend of September is now threatened. An appearance by the comedian Müslüm is planned for Friday, and several concerts on Saturday. The introduction of the mask obligation is being examined, says Graziano Grieder.

From 13 July, this mask obligation applies for events of 300 or more people in the canton of Zug if the distance of one and a half metres between those present cannot be observed. The Chollerhalle also has concerts in the programme in the coming season to which well over 300 visitors are expected. Grieder hopes that the tightened measures will soon be lifted. "We have no choice but to continue to be patient," he says.

How did the low number of 30 people come about?
When asked, the Zug health director Martin Pfister says that he understands the anger of nightlife entrepreneurs regarding the tightened measures. But he has also received reactions from operators who were "happy" that "clear conditions prevail." The current regulation will remain in place up to the end of August.

The governing council will reassess the situation after the summer holidays. With regard to the reasons for determining the number of 30 people allowed to stay in the interior of a restaurant "without fixed seats", Pfister writes: "The figure is a balancing act for both health and economic reasons. As it became apparent that there is a significantly increased risk of infection indoors and when visitors are not seated, we have placed greater emphasis on the health aspects."

It’s not possible to say for sure how many contagions there have been in Zug clubs or bars. From the last weekend of June onwards, it’s "highly likely" that eight people had become infected in such venues or at private parties.

The total number of people infected in the canton increased by 36, to 259, between 29 June and the morning of 17 July.