Switzerland. Canton Ticino. Lugano. Three young persons wear a mask on the face to protect themselves from Coronavirus (also called Covid-19). Food distribution for poor people. People should maintain between themselves a safety healthy distance because of heavy risk of contamination. The circles drawn with chalk on the asphalt ground mark places place where one person should stand. Due to the spread of the coronavirus, the Federal Council has categorised the situation in the country as “extraordinary”. It has issued a recommendation to all citizens to stay at home, especially the sick and the elderly. The Federal Council (German: Bundesrat, French: Conseil fédéral, Italian: Consiglio federale, Romansh: Cussegl federal) is the seven-member executive council that constitutes the federal government of the Swiss Confederation. From March 16 the government ramped up its response to the widening pandemic, ordering the closure of bars, restaurants, sports facilities and cultural spaces. Only businesses providing essential goods to the population – such as grocery stores, bakeries and pharmacies – are to remain open. 26.03.2020 © 2020 Didier Ruef