Strange Smoke Spooks Onlookers; Basel COVID App Released; Pandemic Response Plan Evaluated

News For 5 May 2020

A plume of yellow smoke was observed on Tuesday over the regional waste incineration plant in the Klybeck neighborhood of Basel.  Around 11 am, the smoke rose high enough that passers-by and neighbors notified police fearing a toxic cloud.  The Basel Department of Economic, Social and Environmental Affairs released a statement shortly afterwards excluding the possibility of environmental hazard.  The organization had already contacted the operator of the plant, Veolia Industries and confirmed that the source was the excessive release of nitrogen oxide from a planned disposal of waste.  Normally, the plant is able to remove the excess chemical, but for unexplained reasons was overwhelmed on this occasion.  Veolia was warned to take additional precautions to prevent unplanned or accidental releases of gasses in the future.

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On Monday, Basel released an app intended to trace those infected with the Corona virus and the people they have been in contact with.  The app can only be downloaded by those that have been diagnosed with the virus by a qualified healthcare provider.  Once downloaded, the app helps the user track their self-quarantine along with creating a record of all the people they had contact with, during and after their diagnosis during the contagious period of the virus.  The app does not track any other private information and is voluntary and is intended to help authorities track the spread of the virus.

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In planning for future pandemics, the authorities in charge of Basel's hospital systems have been evaluating the possibility of making the hospital in Bottmingen which services Basel Land and Basel Stadt a center for epidemic response.  The disease caused by Corona virus has made clear the necessity of additional bed-space in a health care facility relatively isolated from other hospital services.  The Bottmingen hospital, which has been serving as a de-facto response center for those needing hospitalization resulting from Corona caused health issues could be expanded to have 350 beds from the current 150.