There have been veiled threats from Bern to those cantons which are still allowing mountaintop terraces to stay open.
The health minister Alain Berset says the law is clear – all terraces must be closed.
Canton Graubünden has taken the hint and closed its terraces.
But others, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Uri, Glarus, Schwyz and Ticino are still defying the federal instruction.
Federal insiders are telling the press the cantons may find coronavirus relief funds being cut off if they don’t relent.
That is likely to be worth several hundred million francs.
But maybe the cantons hope to keep the argument going long enough until, March 22nd, when terraces are likely to be allowed to open anyway.