The results of the hotel and area tests in St. Moritz prove that systematic testing is currently the best remedy against the spread of the coronavirus and its mutations. The testing strategy of the Canton of Grisons deserves everyone's support — including that of the federal government.
Media release from the Corona II Engadin Taskforce dated January 21, 2021
Despite the two clusters of corona infections in two St. Moritz hotels, the virus has not spread any further among the general population and guests of the town. This is confirmed by the evaluations of the area test in St. Moritz on Tuesday. The infection rate is as high as it was before the holidays.
As a result, the canton has lifted the additional protective measures on Friday so that St. Moritz and Engadin can continue the winter season and continue to offer their guests safe and beautiful winter days. The Corona II Engadin Task Force calls on residents and guests of the region to continue to strictly comply with the protective regulations and to refrain from unnecessary contacts with other people.
With regular corona tests among staff and, in some cases, also among guests, the two St. Moritz hotels quarantined over the weekend have assumed their responsibility as hosts and employers and protected their guests and employees, as well as the general population, from a major outbreak of the corona infection.
The immediate intervention of the authorities and the quarantine for the two companies was drastic, but proved to be correct. At the same time, an area test was also carried out, which identified other infected people, but also proved that the municipality of St. Moritz is no more affected by the pandemic than during the area test at the beginning of December.
Testing is an alternative to lockdown
On the recommendation of the task force and the canton, numerous companies outside St. Moritz have also started testing their employees in order to be able to detect further infections. Based on previous experience, it is expected that around one percent of those tested are infected and contagious at the same time without even knowing it themselves.
The next step is to introduce regular company tests. These should be carried out in a targeted manner throughout the canton, i.e. tailored to the risk profile of individual employees. The task force and the municipalities of Südbünden are actively supporting this project.
They are calling on companies in the region to participate in this multi-month measure.
However, the financing of the entire test costs is still open. Since many companies are already facing severe economic problems, these costs must not be passed on to them. The canton is already heavily involved in the development and implementation of the project. The task force is now calling on the federal government to support the Canton of Grisons and its companies in this groundbreaking project.
Companies that have been regularly and systematically tested can operate more securely, which can lead Switzerland out of a lock down more quickly than any other individual measure. The costs of testing are vanishing compared to a lock down. It should be in the interest of the federal government to finance the project in Grisons in an uncomplicated manner and to apply the lessons learned throughout Switzerland.
Contact: Corona II Engadin Task Force
Christian Gartmann
Project manager and coordinator with municipalities
christian@gartmann.biz
079 355 78 78
Christian Gartmann is the initiator and project manager of the Corona II Engadin Task Force.