Corona: Federal Councilor Berset had to be tested

Finally a glimmer of hope: When Federal President Simonetta Sommaruga (59) together with Federal Councilors Alain Berset (48, SP) and Guy Parmelin (60, SVP) appeared before the press on Wednesday, the social democrat announced that the drastic measures to combat the corona Pandemic would be eased at least towards the end of the month. Provided that the infections do not skyrocket again.

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But the good news was in contrast to the extraordinary meeting of the state government just a few hours earlier. Minister of Health Berset, who has been fighting the virus almost continuously for weeks, stayed away from the meeting in the morning. Instead, the Freiburg man switched to the handset. Reason: Berset had to undergo a medical test in the morning. A person from his department had tested positive for the corona virus the day before. Most recently she met Berset on Friday last week, in compliance with the required distance rules.

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Vice Chancellor confirms test

Vice Chancellor and Federal Council Spokesman André Simonazzi (51) confirms the fact: «In fact, it was the case that Federal Councilor Berset underwent a test on Wednesday morning and was therefore called in for part of the Federal Council meeting.» When the negative test result was available, Berset attended the session “again normally”. This was the case around noon.

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The Federal Council has had various systems for switching on for years. In the current case, a new system was used and it worked well, Simonazzi continues.

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However, the Vice Chancellor also says: “He was not the first Federal Council to be tested in the past few weeks and is unlikely to be the last.”

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Maurer belongs to the risk group

As a 69-year-old, Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer (SVP) belongs to the risk group. Which members of the state government have been tested, however, is not communicated, said Simonazzi. And: no minister is ill. However, the meeting on Wednesday was special in that so far no member has only taken part in the discussion by telephone.

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The Federal Council is prepared to be able to continue government business in times of crisis. Each Federal Council is also the representative of another. If a minister fails, it is already clear who will temporarily take over his business.

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A rule that also applies in the cantons: at the end of March, the Aargau SP government councilor Urs Hofmann (63) became infected, whereupon SVP government councilor Jean-Pierre Gallati (53) stepped in as deputy. Hofmann could now leave the hospital.

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