Zolli Set To Reopen; Public Servants Forced To Take The Train; Basel Land Swings To Corona Deficit

News For 9 June 2020

The Basel Zoo, affectionately known as the "Zolli" by locals, has reopened.  This marks the reopening since having to close to visitors due to the Corona Virus outbreak and public health response.  As hygiene rules are still in effect, total visitor limits at one time are still in effect, not to exceed 4000. In addition, the smaller animal houses remain closed to the public, while larger ones will have attendants regulating the number of visitors at one time.  Fans and supporters of the zoo are happy to see it reopen, as the closure has cost the Zoo close to 5.5 million Swiss Francs in gate admission fees over the last 2 and a half months.  

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On Tuesday, the cantonal government council of Basel Stadt announced the implementation of the motion "Pro-:Klima Rail Travel instead of Air Travel for government employees" to go into effect July 1. Cantonal government employees and those working for government funded operations like the BVB will require that they use rail travel for any trips under 1000 kilometers for official business.  Implementation of the motion will be within the framework of an amendment to the regulation on expenses and compensation.

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Burgermeisters in Canton Basel Land were expecting a budget surplus of 37 million Swiss Francs for fiscal year 2020.  However, the revised budget which now accounts for the economic period during which Corona Virus related quarantine rules were in effect, now shows that the Canton will in fact swing to a deficit in the "10s of millions of francs".  The cantonal government has started drawing up plans to respond with maximum efficiency in case of a second outbreak of the virus later this year.