Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

What coping strategies have you or your community developed to deal with the coronavirus pandemic?

Hosted by: Veronica DeVore

For months now, measures put in place to contain the Covid-19 pandemic have considerably restricted many aspects of our lives. How are you coping?

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Lacroix Elena
Lacroix Elena
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

The best response to the fear instilled daily by the continuous reminder of the sick and the dead is to adopt a prevention protocol, totally effective provided you do not suffer from so-called "civilization" diseases, diabetes, hypertension, overweight, etc. Very simple, from a very extensive blood analysis maintain support in vitamins related to immunity, a supplement for the microbiota and essential oil of ravintsara. And above all, daily physical exercise. We're doing just fine and waiting for the tunnel to open...

La meilleure réponse à la peur instillée au quotidien par le rappel en continu des malades et des morts est d'adopter un protocole de prévention, totalement efficace à condition de ne pas souffrir de maladies dites de "civilisation", diabète, hypertension, surpoids, etc. Très simple, à partir d'une analyse sanguine très étendue maintenir le soutien en vitamines liées à l'immunité, un complément pour le microbiote et l'huile essentielle de ravintsara. Et surtout de l'exercice physique quotidien. On se porte comme un charme et on attend la sortie du tunnel ...

Maplesuisse
Maplesuisse

Pretty well. The situation is making me more grateful for what I have. I am spending the time that used to be spent with in-person meet ups, in zoom/Facetime/Skype chats or the good old phone call. I am spending more time reconnecting with far away friends. It’s so interesting to see that we’re all in the same boat, different challenges, but all feeling it hard one way or another. I'm particularly staying in touch with those I that I know have lost dear ones and trying to be supportive.
Working on my couple relationship as it has been stressful to move to a new community, retire and then, enter the lockdowns almost right away. We both enjoy social interaction with sometimes our own friends and then with other couples. It's harder to connect and make new friends. Using the nature trails to keep fit and meet new acquaintances. Also, spending more time in the spiritual journey - reconnecting with friends for reading the scriptures and discussing how those passages interact with our lives currently. Meditating with an international group and meeting up once a week on Zoom. Everything takes more time to sort out (the administrative parts of our life, the prevention measures, the supply chain of goods is fractured, but maybe that's a good thing – thus we are less prone to spend on more and more and being satisfied with what we have. The most important thing is family and friends. It really has been a huge paradigm shift to get to the essence of who & what we love and care for and cling to them to get through the hard times.

adreja42
adreja42

We have a strong community of 6 doctor families and we're helping each other. We're taking care of the children in the 6 families and doing shopping in common to get things cheaper.

Swiss people are not welcomed in our community sooner than 3 generations. Equal treatment.

Veronica DeVore
Veronica DeVore SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@adreja42

Thanks for sharing; It seems like this idea of "pods" has been widely used by families to cope during this time. I didn't quite understand what you meant by "sooner than 3 generations" - does this mean you avoid including older people in your group because they are at higher risk of complications from Covid-19?

andreavolem
andreavolem
@adreja42

I was born in Austria and my husband is from Serbia. We fully understand your point about the Swiss law not considering you Swiss for 3 generations. They simply do not exist to us, just like we do not exist to them.

We're renting a house near St Gallen as both of us work in health care and we rarely travel to Zurich when we are needed for emergency surgeries. Even though we've been living in Switzerland on and off for the last 28 years all our 4 children go to school in Bregenz and we're taking turns spending time with them during the week while during the weekend and every second weekend. It also helps that quite a few of us used to work as university teachers and this experience makes a big difference.

We have a fairly large community of about 30 Austrian and Serbian families in St Gallen and Bregenz. We help each other with the children or grand-children and teach them English or with things like shopping, laundry and even getting discount deals on having someone to clean all our houses as part of the same order. The community meant a lot before and it is a lot more important now.

disec70919
disec70919

My husband and I only care about our community in Austria. In Switzerland everyone works and nobody taks with their neighbors, This is an anti-social country. I am surprised there is no neighbor insurance where you would get paid if a neighbor taks or says hello to you.

Veronica DeVore
Veronica DeVore SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@disec70919

How do you keep in touch with your community in Austria? Are you currently living in Switzerland?

PASSERBY2
PASSERBY2

Religion is important coping mechanism for especially older people, Unfortunately, religious services are curbed by the limits of people. I think Switzerland is breaking human rights by curbing free expression of religious practices. Church masses are not disco clubs or beer festivals.

Veronica DeVore
Veronica DeVore SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@PASSERBY2

Have you experienced or seen any religious services moving online during this time? Do you think that's a good way to adapt to the situation?

asesow
asesow

My family and I used to volunteer to help the elderly in our area and we often did free babysitting for other parents in the neighborhood so they get a chance for a night off.

Since the virus it is everyone for themselves. Our children no longer interact with the neighbors or even the children at school. With the teachers it is worst as many are older so we sent all of them a letter asking to stay at least 3m away from our children or we'll report them to the police. So far they comply. Can't risk getting the virus from anyone.

Previously we used to take the bicycles everywhere, now we bought another car so we can stay away from groups of people. Might be bad for the environment, but at least we're alive, virus free and none of us is using public transport anymore.

Veronica DeVore
Veronica DeVore SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@asesow

Thanks for sharing; do your children have the option of online learning to mitigate some of these concerns?

terminator1967
terminator1967
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

So as a Swiss abroad, I think it's good that the restaurants and cafes are still accessible.

Also the rules 4 people at a table. Because in Baden-Württemberg, where I live and live, the partial lockdown may go into overtime.

The whole cultural and leisure sector is closed. Of course we have more and higher new infections.

I wanted and could still go to the cafe or restaurant as an individual.

If Switzerland were not a risk area, I would make a visit to the restaurant.

Greetings,

Michael Walz

Also ich finde es als Auslandschweizer gut, dass die Restaurants und Cafes noch zugänglich sind.

Auch die Regeln 4 Personen an einem Tisch. Denn in Baden-Württemberg, wo ich wohne und lebe, geht der Teil-Lockdown möglicherweise in die Verlängerung.

Der ganze Kultur- und Freizeitbereich ist zu. Natürlich haben wir mehr und höhere Neuinfektionen.

Ich wollte und könnte als Einzelperson noch ins Cafe oder Restaurant gehen.

Wär die Schweiz kein Risikogebiet , würde ich einen Besuch im Restaurant machen.

Grüße,

Michael Walz

Helen Itschner
Helen Itschner
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

As already mentioned, I have a testimony because of asthma. But keeping your distance is sometimes very difficult. In the tram, too many people stick to the door. If I get caught in the rush hour, I have to look into the distance to find a place with enough distance in the train. For self-protection I often stay at home.

Wie schon erwähnt, habe ich wegen Asthma ein Zeugnis. Aber Abstand halten ist manchmal sehr schwierig. Im Tram kleben zu viele an der Tür. Gerate ich in die Stosszeit, muss ich in die Weite schauen, um einen Platz mit genügend Abstand im Zug zu finden. Für den Selbstschutz bleibe ich oft zu Hause.

HAT
HAT

1. Focus on your family as first priority.
2. Focus on the work (where possible) to do the best you can
3. Maintain mutual trust amongst neighbours
4. Maintain respect for people who are of a different color or culture
5. Understand this is an unfortunate viral pandemic and the danger is real
6. Seek help from friends and then professional doctors if you need
7. Never be afraid to seek help
8. Care for others, and you will have a sense of responsibility
9. Stop complaining or making up conspiracy theories. The government is equally fatigued by this unexpected pandemic.

Veronica DeVore
Veronica DeVore SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@HAT

Thanks for this concise and useful list!

Lynx
Lynx

I am an introvert, so it's easy to self-isolate. I am also a loner and don't need people. But I'd love to hear how those who need people are coping, especially those who like to be the center of attention.

Helen Itschner
Helen Itschner
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

Good thing I got a certificate because of asthma. Again and again it wants to be seen, sometimes together with an ID. The reproachful ones of the passers-by increase. Sometimes I am pointed out to the mask duty. Distance yes, as far as possible, but washing hands - as far as my sensitive skin can bear. (suffered all my childhood from neurodermatitis.) And this disinfection - suddenly it's no use any more if it's used too long and ruins some skin. Please enjoy with moderation.

Gut, dass ich wegen Asthma ein Zeugnis erhielt. Immer wieder will es gesehen werden, manchmal zusammen mit einem Ausweis. Die vorwurfsvollen der Passanten mehren sich. Manchmal werde ich auf die Maskenpflicht hingewiesen. Abstand ja, soweit möglich, aber Händewaschen - soweit es meine empfindliche Haut erträgt. (litt die ganze Kindheit unter Neurodermitis.) Und diese Desinfizierei - nützt nämlich plötzlich nichts mehr, wenn sie zu lange angewendet wird und macht manche Haut kaputt. Bitte mit Mass zu geniessen.

BlueHeadLizard
BlueHeadLizard
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

Ouff a lot of Cornavirus mesures here are some:
1. Refusal of invitation to face-to-face social meetings, not even during the deconfinement period in summer, because it was clear that Corona was still there, and despite vexation that I did not come.
2. Few visits to the restaurant/cafe; one since the beginning of Coronavirus March, and this only in close family of the same house.
3. Avoid places and times with a lot of people for food and pharmacy shopping. For example change stores that pay more attention; alternate checkouts used instead of side-by-side checkouts. No more shopping on Saturdays.

Ouff beaucoup de Mésures Cornavirus voici quelques un:
1. Refus d'invitation aux rencontre sociale face à face, même pas pendant la période de déconfinement en été, car c'ètait claire que Corona était toujours là, et malgré vexation que je ne vienne pas.
2. Peu de visite au restaurant/café; un depuis début de Coronavirus mars, et ceci seulement en famille proche de la même maison.
3. Éviter les endroits et horaires avec beaucoup de monde dense pour les achats nourriture et pharmacie. Par exemple changement de magasins qui font plus d'attention; caisses alternés utilisé au lieux de caisses côte à côte. Plus d’achat le samedi.

Lei33
Lei33
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

I'm curious to know!

Je suis curieux de savoir !

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