June 13, 2021, November 28, 2021. And now again on June 18, 2023. In a month the Swiss electorate will vote on the Covid-19 law for a third time. This is how the democratic process wants it, because the referendum committee collected the necessary signatures three times; most recently it was almost 60,000.
This week, the two co-presidents of the committee – Nicolas Rimoldi from the “Mass-Voll” association and Roland Bühlmann from the “Friends of the Constitution” – discussed the law in the “voting arena”. The law was supported by the Zurich SP Councilor Daniel Jositsch and Tina Deplazes, Vice President of the “Young Center”.
Together with the science editors, the SRF fact check took a closer look at some statements. What’s right, what’s not? SRF business editor Katrin Zöfel summarizes the most important findings.
1. The certificate is not proof that you are protected from infection and that you do not infect others.
That’s correct. During its use from June 2021 to February 2022, the certificate only proved that one had been vaccinated, recovered or tested. At the beginning of the 2021 vaccination campaign, studies showed that vaccination could significantly reduce the number of infections. This applied at least to a fresh immunization.
As early as mid-2021, newly emerging virus variants weakened this effect significantly. At the present time, even a full vaccination – with several doses – hardly has any protective effect against infection. One of the reasons is that the currently circulating variants and the vaccination no longer go well together. A good protection against severe disease progression remains in fully vaccinated people.
2. Currently, some countries still require a certificate for entry.
That’s not true. The IATA Travel Center currently does not identify any country that requires a Covid certificate for entry. However, a number of states are currently requiring proof of vaccination and/or a valid negative PCR test; for example Brazil, the Philippines, Indonesia, Libya, Chad, Zimbabwe or Angola. When entering the country, you can use the Swiss certificate to prove vaccination and/or a negative PCR test, but you don’t have to. This can change if a new dangerous variant of the virus should emerge and states reintroduce the certificate as a measure.
3. The coronavirus is becoming milder and milder.
Can’t say that yet. The widespread assumption that viruses become progressively milder as they evolve is scientifically controversial. Longer-term assessments of the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus are also difficult simply because it is still a relatively new virus for humans. It belongs to a group of viruses with which researchers and epidemiologists have had little experience so far, making forecasts difficult.
The “voting arena” on the Covid law
New estimates assume that evolutionary leaps are still possible. Jumps in which variants arise, which the bypass existing immunity once again. In Switzerland and many other countries, the negative health effects of even strong waves of infection have been much weaker than before for more than a year. However, this is largely due to the now very high level of immunity.
4. The corona vaccination protects well against severe courses and deaths.
That’s correct. The effect of vaccination on the frequency of severe courses and deaths after infection has been well established. The frequency of severe courses after infection in vaccinated people has been examined in numerous studies. All these studies show the high protective effect against severe courses.
Vaccination protects against severe courses and deaths
A worldwide estimate speaks of 14.4 to 19.8 million prevented deaths in the first year that vaccines were available. This study also made it clear that the unequal availability of vaccines worldwide had an impact on the number of deaths. Rich countries have been able to prevent more deaths through vaccination.
5. The WHO and the federal government have declared the pandemic over.
That’s not true. The World Health Organization (WHO) Covid-19 Emergency Committee did not declare the pandemic over on May 5, 2023 the global health emergency she declared. The WHO can declare an international health emergency if there is a health risk “serious, sudden and out of the ordinary”. With this instrument, the WHO has the opportunity to involve member countries more closely in combating the danger. Among other things, members are then legally obliged to quickly provide the WHO with relevant information.
Alain Berset has not declared the pandemic over either. He told SRF in February 2022 – after practically all measures had been lifted – when asked whether the pandemic was over: “I think a phase is coming to an end, that’s a good thing. But a pandemic is only over when it is over everywhere. And that is far from the case in Europe and elsewhere in the world. But I think the situation is good for us.”