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Queen congratulates veterans on their birthday
British WWII veteran Tom Moore has raised the equivalent of 36 million Swiss francs for the British Health Service (NHS) in recent weeks. It started with a call for donations of £ 1,000. For this, he wanted to walk 100 laps through his backyard with his walker before his 100th birthday.
Moore celebrates her birthday today as an international celebrity – she received around 25,000 greeting cards from around the world. Congratulations included Queen Elizabeth II. In honor of former Captain “Captain Moore” he was also promoted to Colonel of the Army Foundation College, personally approved by the Queen. “His heroic efforts have encouraged the entire nation,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a video message.
Crown measures are relaxing in half of Europe
About half of the countries in Europe have already relaxed their measures against the coronavirus. 44 states in the European region have acted against the pandemic with movement restrictions, said Hans Kluge, director of the European Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO). Twenty-one of these countries have begun to relax the measures again and another eleven plan to do so in the coming days.
The situation in Europe remains serious, Kluge said. Although infection peaks were reached in Western Europe, the curve increased further east. Although the situation in Turkey stabilized, the number of cases in Belarus and Russia increased.
The patchwork quilt from the federal school
Mandatory schools will reopen on May 11. This was decided by the Federal Council. But how they do it depends on the cantons. So they approach the opening of the school in very different ways: with a complete program, middle classes or they need more time to make decisions. Here is the current summary:
Controversy over the opening of the school
While German virologists consider children to be as contagious as adults, according to the BAG there is no risk of infection. Swiss epidemiologists have therefore criticized the BAG. Germany is not currently alleviating the situation and schools will remain closed for the time being. At a press conference in Zurich, Daniel Koch of the BAG said that well-known German studies did not question the reopening of the schools. Read more about the controversy here:
Russian Prime Minister with positive test
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is infected with the corona virus, according to the Tass news agency. The 54-year-old man, therefore, isolates himself. President Vladimir Putin had been briefed by him and expressed the hope for a speedy recovery. Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belussow will take over government affairs.
University of Bern is based on online exams
Students of the University of Bern must take the exams in May and June as planned. These should always be carried out online. The University of Bern wrote in a statement that there are a limited number of exceptions that have been defined. In addition, special measures have been developed for the medical school. Others have to register for the exam online.
The university management is “very aware” that online exams cannot be compared to face-to-face exams.
For the first time since March 13, there is no crown death in the canton of Vaud
For the first time since March 13, there have been no coronavirus-related deaths in Vaud. With a total of 375 deaths since the beginning of the crisis, the western canton of Switzerland has the highest number of victims, before Ticino with 321 victims.
The number of people admitted to the hospital continued to decrease in 156 cases, compared to 164 the previous day. The number of patients in the intensive care unit remained stable at 33.
Britain has passed epidemic peak according to Johnson
Britain has passed the peak of the epidemic, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. “We have many reasons to hope for the long term,” he says. Now it is essential to maintain control of the situation. In the coming week, he will present a plan to get the economy back on track and get the kids to school. It will try to build the widest possible political consensus.
Trade association presents “Action Agenda”
The Swiss Trade Association (SGV) presents an agenda for the return of the economy to normality, based on three pillars: alleviating the economy, strengthening framework conditions and avoiding new burdens. The association is based on an “Agenda for Action” that will focus on the coming months, as SGV Director Hans-Ulrich Bigler says.
The economy needs a clear regulatory approach to buffer the recession, because people are concerned with protecting jobs and students.
Army and EPFL continue testing with contact tracking app
The ETH Lausanne (EPFL) has continued field tests for the Swiss contact tracking application in the fight against the coronavirus. One hundred members of the Chamblon (VD) Barracks Army were brought in to test the smartphone application.
Initial attempts at the app have already been carried out at the EPFL site in Lausanne with a dozen soldiers in recent weeks, but never before have so many members of the military been included in the tests as on Thursday.
The installation of the application is planned voluntarily from mid-May. All data should be stored in a decentralized and anonymous way on cell phones.
The crown rules in Germany are easily relaxed
In the Corona crisis, the federal and state governments in Germany agreed to carefully loosen protection measures at the national level. Among other things, they affect playgrounds and places of worship. Most kindergarten students and children have to stay home for a while. The federal and state governments have decided that there is still no time for major relaxation measures. Food and soccer fans also need patience.
Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to agree to further relax crown requirements with federal states in the coming week. These will be schools, nurseries and sports, Merkel said in Berlin after consulting with the prime ministers of the federal states.
Merkel said at the press conference that citizens must remain disciplined: keep their distance from each other and implement hygiene advice.
Keystone
Parliament supports the deployment of the army
The deployment of the army during the crown crisis is well received in parliament. The Security Policy Commission of the Council of States (SPK-S) unanimously requested the approval of the assistance service and thanked the members of the army.
The SPK-S noted with satisfaction that the mission, the largest number of troops since World War II, went well, parliamentary services said. The commission supports the Federal Council’s decision that service providers receive their full salary and are credited with up to two repeated courses.
The agreement will be discussed by both councils in the extraordinary session that will begin next Monday. If more than 2,000 members of the military are summoned or the deployment lasts more than three weeks, the Federal Assembly must approve the deployment.
The little-loved protective masks
Protective masks against the coronavirus are not yet widely used in Switzerland. However, there are very notable differences between linguistic regions. This is shown in a survey by the research center. sotomo and DemoScope, The link opens in a new window on behalf of the STOCK EXCHANGE.
In the part of the country most affected by the coronavirus, 24 percent always wear a hygiene mask in public places. In French-speaking Switzerland, eight percent of the population always or 16 percent partially wear a mask. In German-speaking Switzerland, only every hundredth (1 percent) always or every tenth (10 percent) partially a mask.
People at risk are slightly more likely to wear a hygiene mask than the average population. While a total of 16 percent wear at least partially that mask, 20 percent of people over 65 and 23 percent of people with a previous illness do so. Women wear hygiene masks a little more often (19%) than men (13%).
A clear majority rejects the general obligation to use hygiene masks in public spaces. A general obligation to wear hygiene masks in the workplace is almost as clearly rejected. In contrast, a clear majority argue that personal service providers should wear masks (for example, hairdressers, massages, physical therapy).
(Online survey for the BAG between April 19 and 23, with details of 1,682 people aged 15 and over).
Antiviral fabric for protective masks
The Weba AG fabric factory in Appenzell, together with the Swiss company HeiQ Materials AG, has developed an antiviral fabric that can be used for protective masks. To equip Switzerland with efficient protective material, Empa researchers work together with a research, health and industry team on the “Remask” project. Research projects have already started in Empa laboratories to develop reusable masks. The new fabrics have a liquid-repellent property and can be washed up to 30 times with the same effect.
BLS and RBS will also return to normal operation starting May 11
The regional traffic Bern-Solothurn (RBS) and Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon-Bahn (BLS) will return to service from May 11 on a regular schedule. The railways say that all rolling stock operations, train personnel and also employees in the workshops would have to be reconciled.
The Regio-Express Brig-Domodossola will continue to function only as a minimum offer for travelers. The Regio-Express Zweisimmen-Spiez / Interlaken only operates trains in the morning and at night.
BLS Simplon and Lötschberg car transport between Brig and Iselle also remains reduced to the minimum offer in the morning and at night.
With Bern-Solothurn (RBS) regional traffic there will still be restrictions due to staff shortages on certain lines, such as the Bern-Solothurn and Bern-Worb lines.
Bernese schools with middle classes: for the first two days
Class attendance in the primary schools of the canton of Bern begins on May 11 in the middle classes. In the first two days, children should be able to practice the rules of hygiene and behavior in small groups, she writes. Bern Board of Education, The link opens in a new window. It also makes it easier to determine what level of learning children are at, and clarifications after distance learning could be resolved.
At a minimum distance of two meters, the direction of education writes that it must be observed between teachers and students. However, all activities involving physical contact between children should be avoided.
Teachers who are particularly at risk should not teach on-site. However, it could, for example, prepare lessons, correct the work or help the deputies.
Regular operation for childcare outside the family.
With the resumption of school classes on May 11, “family and school child care facilities should reopen,” recommends the BAG. In a letter to cantonal social managers, the social managers conference (SODK) now recommends that out-of-family care facilities gradually increase their number of seats for the original offering.
Starting May 11, parents may face the situation of having to do the whole job again. This is only possible if the care of preschool children is guaranteed. For epidemiological reasons, there is no reason to care for young children at home.
Kibesuisse industry associations, The link opens in a new window and pro emphasize suisse, The link opens in a new window It would have developed a model protection concept for kindergartens that could serve as a framework for cantons or institutions.
Ticino also opens schools on May 11
The canton of Ticino, which was severely affected by the pandemic, will resume regular operations in compulsory schools on May 11. The primary schools would be reopened in accordance with the recommendations of the BAG and Dr. Ticino, the cantonal government announced in a brief statement.
In Ticino, the so-called “crisis window” still applies until the end of the week. Because the canton was more affected by the coronavirus than the rest of Switzerland, the Federal Council retrospectively allowed the Ticino government to impose stricter measures against the spread. Industrial companies and construction sites in Ticino have been closed since the end of March.
A week ago, the state government approved a final extension of the “crisis window” until May 3. District President Christian Vitta announced that Ticino will have to join the “federal line” in the future.
Health commission wants better supply of medicines
The federal government will expand mandatory stocks of drugs and vaccines and will also consider increasing production in Germany. The State Health Commission (SGK) requires this with a motion.
The Federal Council will be tasked with drawing up an inventory of difficulties in the supply of drugs and vaccines with actors in the health system and seeking solutions at the national and international levels.
In addition, the Federal Council should consider expanding and adjusting the mandate of the Army Pharmacy so that it can take on the role of supporting a Federal Pharmacy for approved or prescription drugs in case of shortages.
Relaxation of crown measures in the Bern prison system
Prisoners may visit again in the canton of Bern subject to certain conditions. Visiting rights had been restricted in connection with the crown pandemic.
Pandemic measures in the prison system are now gradually being relaxed, as announced by the Security Directorate. Beginning May 11, visits to correctional facilities will again be possible to a certain extent in accordance with Federal Office of Public Health regulations.
However, the right of access may also be restricted again if there is reasonable suspicion of a Covid 19 case at a Bern enforcement agency or if a confirmed case occurs.
