Federal Councilor Alain Berset (49) admits errors in dealing with the corona pandemic. “At the beginning I questioned science too little,” he said on Thursday evening in an interview with the SRF broadcast “Gredig direkt”.
Last year, at the beginning of the pandemic, it was “very pleasant” when the Federal Council simply listened to the position of science – and implemented it. “This has led to the fact that we have claimed that masks could even be harmful,” said the 49-year-old SP politician.
“Should have questioned that more”
The official position of many scientific experts at the time was that the correct use of hygiene masks could not simply be assumed in the population, and that incorrect use could even be harmful. “In retrospect, I have to say that I should have questioned that more,” said Berset.
However, the minister denied that the federal government had initially only advised against wearing masks because initially too few copies were available for everyone in Switzerland.
If the government had been convinced at the time that masks were helpful, one would simply have had to come to terms with the available material, said Berset.
Berset did not know whether he “could take it”
Berset also talks about external pressure on the SRF broadcast. The crisis has strengthened the team spirit in the Federal Council, continued Berset. The situation was at times “physically very brutal” for all members of the Federal Council.
He didn’t know whether he “could take it,” said Berset. After the first shock, he was “really exhausted” at the end of April and mid-May 2020. He was under very strong pressure. Fortunately, he was always able to sleep very well.
Federal Council praises vaccination campaign
After the confessions, Berset praised the federal government’s decisions in the vaccination campaign. The health minister said the best vaccinations against the corona virus that exist worldwide are used in Switzerland. Only state-of-the-art vaccinations using mRNA technology would be given. Very few countries could even do that by the summer. (SDA / euc)