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Will you soon stop eating out? Covid working group wants to close restaurants
The spread of the coronavirus has slowed down a bit. However, scientific advisers to the Federal Council propose drastic new measures to protect the health system from impending collapse.
Scene of the confinement in spring: a cafe closes its doors.
Too slow, too shy: Individual members of the Federal Council’s Covid-19 task force are anxious and harshly criticized, preferably on Twitter. The head of the working group, Martin Ackermann, takes over the diplomatic part. “The dialogue with the Federal Office of Public Health and Federal Councilor Alain Berset is good. We can contribute our point of view, ”he said Friday at the federal press conference on the situation at the Corona front. But Ackermann also left no doubts about what he thinks of the Federal Council’s virus policy: too slow, too timid.
The coronavirus is spreading a bit more slowly than three weeks ago when the Federal Council imposed restrictions such as a ban on gathering 15 or more people or an extended mask requirement. But a week after this step, an average of ten people still infected twelve more. So the growth is still exponential. Currently, the number of patients in intensive care units has doubled in eight days. According to calculations by the Task Force, the 985 beds certified for intensive care will be occupied next Tuesday. The capacity can be increased to 1400, but according to Ackermann that does not solve the basic problem:
“We have to stop the contagion.”
Therefore, the working group calls for even more drastic measures, which are already a reality in some French-speaking cantons: the temporary closure of non-essential restaurants and shops, as well as fewer participants in meetings and private gatherings. “From our point of view, the risk is too great to wait and see if the measures decided so far are sufficient,” Ackermann said. He sees closed spots as part of a general package for virus containment: for example, the population must be informed more urgently and with practical and concrete advice on how to prevent infections.
At Gastrosuisse, the task force is likely to find misunderstanding. The association harshly criticized the Federal Council when it tightened the screw further at the end of October, imposed a curfew starting at 11 pm and only allowed four guests per table. However, there is currently little indication that the Federal Council will immediately follow the recommendations of the working group. According to an investigation carried out by our newspaper, the cantons are not being listened to on the subject.
Rule breakers tarnish medical staff morale
The federal government reported 9,409 more laboratory-confirmed infections on Friday. 231 people were recently admitted to the hospital, 70 people died in connection with the coronavirus. The BAG cannot yet assess whether additional measures taken at the end of October, such as nightclub closings or a ban on events for 50 or more people, will result in the expected change. One thing is clear: decreasing the number of cases does not immediately improve the situation in the health sector. The number of hospitalizations reflects the infection rate from ten days ago. Meanwhile, there is growing concern that healthcare workers will no longer be able to cope with the flood of Covid patients. Basel Canton doctor Thomas Steffen senses the willingness of the medical staff to make a 150 percent effort. After a visit to the Basel intensive care unit, the member of the Cantonal Medical Association also knows what kills motivation: when doctors and nurses meet passersby after additional shifts that ignore the rules of the crown. Steffen appealed to the population to implement measures to “protect us all.” Even the doctor does not rule out greater restrictions in daily life, but warned against excessive expectations.
“The effects of individual measures can only be predicted to a certain extent.”
Much of the fight against pandemics inevitably follows the principle of trial and error. He had some very practical advice reserved. In working life, you also have to think about protective measures during lunch. According to contact trackers, this social issue leads to many infections.
Friday’s biggest findings in a nutshell:
