Federal Councilor Alain Berset (48) shows up in conversation with the “Daily scoreboard” confident that Switzerland has the situation under control at the moment. Case numbers have increased in the past two weeks, but cantons are taking action.
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Summer vacation would increase the general risk of infection, which is “not surprising,” says Berset. What worries him is that “discipline is waning”. There are people who shake hands again: “This is a gross mistake!”
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Berset believes the harsh criticism of the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) recently, despite its non-stop and intensive work, is “unattractive”. The BAG made mistakes in evaluating the places of infection. Organizational consequences would be drawn internally, according to Berset.
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Has Switzerland overslept digitization of corona containment?
Berset shares the view that digitization in the Swiss healthcare system is “far too little”. While other countries have long been using QR codes, the BAG still relies on fax and handwritten forms. Berset assures that digital development is a priority.
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However, the electronic patient dossier also showed that such processes are “very complex” in Switzerland. Without major compromises in parliament, the law would have crashed.
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The Minister of Health is convinced that the location of the infection will remain unknown in many cases and that the availability of data across cantons cannot change that. “The data can still be so good,” says Berset. Nevertheless, efforts are being made to improve tracing data.
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Returnees quarantine and mandatory mask in stores
Passenger lists of returnees from Corona risk areas must also be sorted by cantons in the BAG first. There was a shortage of personnel for this manual work, which has now been remedied. Berset: “There are not just ten people around the Confederation who are just waiting to be called in for such a task and who have the necessary knowledge.”
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Berset supports the cantonal handling of the mask requirement. Where the number of cases increases, cantons assume their responsibility – as in Geneva. A differentiated, regionally coordinated approach is needed.
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Berset does not want to rule out anything regarding club closings either, but at the moment this seems “unlikely”. In the meantime, however, so much has been learned, according to Berset, “that we can proceed in a more differentiated manner with a view to a possible second wave”.
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Major events from September? Second lockdown?
Berset does not expect the ban on major events to be lifted “unconditionally and indiscriminately” from September. Switzerland had to consult with the Alpine countries about the ski season: “What happens if Austria opens its ski resorts in December and we do not in Switzerland?” There is no deal yet.
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The actions of the federal authorities will depend on whether a second wave breaks out and whether there will be a second lockdown. Would that happen? Berset: «Honestly: I don’t know.»
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If the population participates in a disciplined manner, everything will work. But he once said that the pandemic would be a marathon for all of us. Back then, “said Berset,” I would never have thought how accurate the picture is “. (kes)
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