Switzerland closes nine border crossings, WHO speaks of pandemic
With immediate effect, border traffic from Italy in Ticino will be channeled to the larger border crossings. Nine smaller ones will remain closed, as the customs administration EZV announced today. For its part, the SBB is reducing rail traffic to Italy.
Covid-19: Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the situation as a pandemic (click here for the article "Pandemic plan in SME„).
In Switzerland, according to the FOPH, as of March 11 at 12 p.m., a total of 645 people have tested positive, of which 613 have been confirmed. Today, a fourth person, a 54-year-old man, died as a result of Covid-19.
Spot checks and controls at the border
The border with Italy remains open for cross-border commuters. The Federal Customs Administration (FCA) has set up a monitoring system since Monday to observe the effectiveness of the measures ordered by Italy. This will be implemented with the means available: Intensified random checks and risk-based controls are being used. One such measure is, for example, the checking of cross-border commuters' identity cards. In addition, the FCA is working together with the Italian partner authorities.
As part of the checks on road and rail traffic, travelers from Italy are reminded of the existing travel restrictions on leisure and tourist traffic. They are advised to refrain from traveling from Italy to Switzerland whenever possible.
Closed border crossing and alternative options
In order for the FCA to be able to implement these tasks in a targeted manner, it has decided to channel border traffic from Italy to the larger border crossings with immediate effect. At nine smaller border crossings the already installed barriers will be closed. Travelers are asked to switch to the remaining border crossings indicated (-> Alternative option on border crossing):
- Pedrinate -> Alternate route Chiasso strada (Ponte Chiasso)
- Ponte Faloppia -> Novazzano Brusata (Bizzarone) o Chiasso strada
- Novazzano Marcetto -> Novazzano Brusata (Bizzarone) o Chiasso strada
- San Pietro di Stabio -> Stabio Gaggiolo
- Ligornetto Cantinetta -> Stabio Gaggiolo
- Arzo -> Stabio Gaggiolo o Brusino Arsizio
- Ponte Cremenaga -> Fornasette o Ponte Tresa
- Cassinone -> Fornasette
- Indemini -> Dirinella (Zenna)
These nine border crossings will remain closed until further notice, according to the statement. The FCA is closely monitoring the situation and is in contact with domestic and foreign partner authorities.
Railroad restrictions
Due to the strict travel restrictions in Italy, Trenitalia has implemented extensive reductions in services on national long-distance routes. According to information, this mainly affects connections in northern Italy, but also connections to the capital Rome.
SBB: no direct trains to Venice
As an immediate measure, the two trains that run from Zurich and Geneva via Milan to Venice have been running only as far as Milan since March 10. From March 12, SBB will also be cutting further connections between Switzerland and Milan. These trains will then only run on the Swiss section of the route to Chiasso and Brig, respectively, as SBB writes.
- On the Gotthard axis, this affects three of a total of nine EC connections (Zurich from 7.10 a.m., 11.10 a.m. and 3.10 p.m. as well as Milan from 11.10 a.m., 3.10 p.m. and 7.10 p.m.), which now only run between Chiasso and Zurich.
- On the Simplon axis, two of seven connections are affected (Geneva from 5.39 and Basel SBB from 12.31 and Milan from 7.20 and 17.20), which only run between Basel and Geneva respectively and Brig.
According to SBB, these measures apply for the time being until and including Sunday, April 5, 2020, the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) has been informed. For the affected trains, cross-border reservations are no longer possible. Passengers who are affected by cancelled trains can rebook their tickets on other trains free of charge. Tickets with travel dates up to April 30, 2020, will be fully refunded before departure, the railroad said.
SBB would ensure that the national long-distance service in Switzerland would not be impaired and that an adequate cross-border service could be maintained at the same time.
No further restrictions are currently planned for international rail services to and from Switzerland, subject to current developments in official orders, the SBB media release said.
Flights canceled
And finally: Flight operations to Italy are cancelled. According to a Swiss media release, all flights to and from Italy will be suspended until the beginning of April. (SF)
