Basel Election Up For Grabs; Macabre Discovery On Freiestrasse; Mask Rules Change

News For 25 August 2020

The Basel Cantonal Chancellery, the authority responsible for organizing Grand Council and Government Council elections, is considering postponing the upcoming October 20 vote due to the effects of rising Coronavirus cases in the Canton.  Although no official decision has been made, the Chancellery has been evaluating different scenarios in case circumstances threaten a fair and competitive election.  Candidates and their parties have been vocal about their concerns that social-distancing and quarantine rules have a distorting effect on their ability to communicate with voters.  In addition, the Chancellery has already had to make additional provisions for enforcing social-distancing rules while voters queue for their turn to cast ballots.  The upcoming Sunday, September 27 referendum vote is widely seen as a test-run of the rules and effectiveness of the Cantonal voting system.

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Construction planned until 2023 has started at Freiestrasse in an effort to refurbish the street stones and sidewalks.  It only took a few days of digging before several well preserved graves were uncovered where Freiestrasse meets Barfüssergasse.  As is the case in all Basel construction sites, the archaeological authorities were on hand.  According to their experts, the graves are likely the remains of people that were buried there by Basel's main hospital which was built at the site in the year 1265.  The hospital was at the location until the early 18th century until it ran out of room to care for the growing flow of patients.

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Responding to alarming trends in the number of diagnosed Covid-19 patients, the BVG has instituted stricter rules regarding the use of face covering masks in Basel.  As of Monday, in addition to wearing masks on public transport, everyone is also required to wear masks in stores, restaurants, and in any confined space where social-distance can not be maintained.  A spokesperson for Basel Police have released a statement saying rules will be enforced with fines and people are encouraged to comply.