End of the federal media conference
This ends the Federal Council’s last media conference on the corona pandemic for the time being. We thank you for your attention and will continue to keep you up to date on events relating to the corona virus here in the ticker.
And remember: “Anyone who has symptoms should stay at home”, as Health Minister Alain Berset says. That brings back memories:
Should infected children stay at home?
Another journalist would like to know how school children are now dealt with. Mathys says: “The same applies to children and adults: as long as there are symptoms, you don’t belong in school, in the workplace or in general in public.” But you have to live with the fact that a certain number of infected people are also moving in public. Especially since there are also symptom-free infections.
Is the federal government planning ventilation systems?
If indoor air quality is improved, many infections could be prevented, says science. Is the federal government planning anything in this regard? “Today we all know what we can do to curb the spread of the virus. That is the responsibility of all of us », Berset replies. Opening and ventilating windows makes sense, but the federal government is not considering newly built ventilation systems.
The lessons for a next pandemic
Is Switzerland now better equipped for the next pandemic? Berset explains that the next pandemic will not have forgotten everything you have learned. “At least if it doesn’t take as long as it did between the Spanish flu and the corona pandemic around 100 years later.”
Specifically, it must now be clarified whether there is a need for compulsory storage for protective equipment in order not to have to rush to buy abroad. “We have to see where we can improve.”
How will the pandemic continue to be monitored?
A journalist asks why the Federal Council is so optimistic that the cantons will be able to cope with the situation on their own in the future. And how the pandemic will continue to be monitored.
“We are in a completely different situation than two years ago. The cantons have evolved and are now in a good position to prepare for the coming waves. In addition, we have a certain basic immunization among the population today, that creates security and will work,” Berset replies.
Patrick Mathys from the BAG adds that the monitoring of the pandemic is generally carried out at national level. “Among other things, we will introduce the mandatory reporting system and the Sentinella reporting systemLink opens in a new window as well as continue the wastewater monitoring and the sequencing of samples.»
Berset: “Caution is still indicated”
A Bundeshaus journalist would like to know what the Federal Council’s message to the population is: is Covid now a normal disease that one has to live with – or is the Federal Council appealing to personal responsibility? “Anyone who wants that should get tested,” replies the Minister of Health. “And caution is advisable, especially towards vulnerable people. Even if the situation is better now.”
Do the cantons have to intervene themselves if the number of cases is high?
If the number of cases increases again in autumn: the cantons would then have to take measures themselves if they become necessary again because of a new variant, asks a journalist.
“The idea is that after 2.5 years of crisis, the cantons can deal with such a situation independently. That must be possible – we have acquired the necessary know-how,” replies Federal Councilor Alain Berset emphatically.
What next after Corona, Mr. Berset?
A journalist asks Alain Berset whether the high point of his Federal Council career is over after two years of the pandemic. “There’s still room,” Berset replies with a smile.
Corona situation will continue to be closely monitored
The Federal Council explains that it is not a question of a lack of transparency, but of the workload that the corona numbers are only published weekly. Providing the information in the necessary quality and speed costs resources at the Federal Office of Public Health.
According to Berset, the monitoring of the corona numbers should now also be adapted to the normal situation. The situation is being monitored very closely with wastewater testing, among other things. Patrick Mathys from the BAG adds: The data would continue to be evaluated daily, but only published weekly.
Why are the case numbers only communicated weekly?
Now the question and answer session begins. A journalist would like to know why the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) only provides information about the current number of cases once a week and no longer daily – given the currently still rather high number of new infections.
“We have gotten used to receiving information about the pandemic every day,” replies Federal Councilor Alain Berset. “We will continue to monitor, but we believe that in the normal situation, an update of the number of cases per week is sufficient. If it becomes necessary, we can very quickly return to regular reporting.”
Return to normal after around 750 days
Berset looks back on the extraordinary situation that lasted 95 days. After that, Switzerland was in a special situation for 668 days. “Returning to the normal situation is possible because public health is unlikely to be at risk in the next few months – although the virus is still there.”
All actors have learned a lot in dealing with the virus, and the situation has now changed fundamentally. Now it is time to restore the normal division of powers between the federal government and the cantons. “After two years of the pandemic, we can look to the future with confidence,” concludes Berset.
The federal government no longer wants to return to a special situation
What will happen in the future is unclear. There are many uncertainties, Berset continues. The pandemic will flare up again in the fall, and this will be monitored closely – including by monitoring the wastewater. However, the federal government wants to remain in the normal situation and no longer want to return to the special situation. “Never say never – but we don’t plan to do it at the moment.”
One-year transition phase
According to the Federal Council, a transition phase with increased vigilance and responsiveness is now indicated until spring 2023. Structures must be maintained to the extent that the Confederation and cantons can react quickly to new developments. This applies above all to testing, vaccination, contact tracing, monitoring and the hospitals’ obligation to report.
The Federal Council has drawn up a basic paper for the goals and precise tasks of this phase. The document will be in consultation with the cantons, social partners and parliamentary commissions until April 22nd.
Free Covid tests are still possible
Federal Councilor Alain Berset says that anyone who wants to continue wearing a mask should do so. “We have to be tolerant and understanding.” Anyone who has corona symptoms can still be tested, the costs will continue to be borne by the federal government. But the obligation to isolate will no longer apply from Friday.
Berset: “The bad phase of the crisis is over”
“Normally it gets warmer at the end of March and then the corona virus also adapts to the seasons. We also have enough vaccine for the current year,” emphasizes Berset. «We cannot say that the crisis is over. But the bad phase of the crisis is over. From Friday we will go back to a normal phase, then the decision-making powers will rest with the cantons again. »
Berset: «Back to normal mode after two years of crisis»
Health Minister Alain Berset opens the media conference. «After two years in crisis mode, now is really the time. We did everything that was necessary to lift the last corona measures and go back to normal mode, »says Berset.
High immunization of the population
The Federal Council justifies the expected lifting of the measures with the fact that “thanks to the high level of immunization among the population” there has been no significant increase in the number of Covid 19 patients in intensive care units in recent weeks. “A threat to public health is unlikely in the next few months,” says the communiqué.
Mask and isolation requirements will no longer apply from April 1st
And the state government is getting down to business: the mask requirement in public transport and in health facilities will no longer apply from Friday. In addition, infected people no longer have to go into isolation. The situation has returned to normal, and the main responsibility for measures to protect the population now rests with the cantons.
Media conference of the Federal Council begins
Welcome to our coverage of the media conference of the Federal Council. Health Minister Alain Berset provides information in Bern about the possible lifting of the last remaining corona measures.
Hospital occupancy and case numbers continue to fall
- The Federal Office of Public Health has lunch today 16,462 new cases reported who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past few days.
- That’s it 7-day average at 15,775. These are 37 percent less than in the previous week. The 14-day incidence is current 3907.27.
- The BAG reports 165 new hospital admissionsthe 14-day average is included 119 hospital admissions per day. Get current 1832 people treated in a hospital for Covid-19. These are 8 percent less than in the previous week.
- Currently are 145 Covid-19 patients in intensive care. These are 11 percent less compared to the previous week. the intensive care beds in Swiss hospitals (including ad hoc beds) are currently closed 77 percent fully occupied. 17 percent of the intensive care beds are occupied by Covid 19 patients.
- The BAG reports 8th new deceased. The 7-day average is included 11 deceased.
- The positive rate in the 7-day average is currently 42.8 percent. This means that out of 100 tests, around 43 tests were positive on average. Compared to the previous week, the positive rate is over 6 percentage points dropped. The test volume in the 7-day average is included 46,272 tests per day and is thus over compared to the previous week 23 percent dropped.
- So far in Switzerland 15’706’683 vaccinations administered (including “booster” vaccinations). According to current calculations are average 2265 people vaccinated per day. These are 4.9 percent more than in the previous week. Currently have with it 69.1 percent of the population received at least two doses (“fully vaccinated”). 42.5 percent of the population have already received a third dose (“booster”).