Switzerland. Canton Ticino. Lugano. Two manikins in an empty shop window. A sign says that the shop will open on April 20th. Due to the spread of the coronavirus (also called Covid-19), 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. 31.03.2020 © 2020 Didier Ruef