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In the second wave, federal experts repeatedly predicted an overload of intensive care units. This has not happened to this day. After strong criticism, the head of the task force takes a position.
Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer ventures out on the SVP’s Facebook channel. Criticize the widespread belief in Corona experts, many experts are also one-sided. “There are also those who know everything better and moralize,” he said. “You only see health.” The needs of the economy and society do not receive enough attention.
Martin Ackermann, the head of the Swiss-Covid-Taskforce, which provides scientific advice to the Federal Council, defended himself against such blanket accusations at today’s expert press conference.
Health, economy and freedom: they must go hand in hand in this pandemic.
At least the scientific working group has a very broad base: “For us, it is absolutely essential that we incorporate all relevant perspectives.” Health, economy and freedom, which must go “hand in hand” in this pandemic and the working group also takes this into account in its recommendations.
Ackermann criticized last Friday that federal measures would not be enough to curb the number of infections. Today there was no more talk about that. The situation is stabilizing, Ackermann said, no new recommendations are being made. But he again warned of an overload in intensive care units. All places could be filled in mid-November, that is, in a few days. These forecasts have already been made several times, they have never materialized before.
Daniel Koch criticizes the forecasts
The former “Lord Crown” of the Federal Office of Public Health, Daniel Koch, thinks little of such forecasts. Last week at the “Swiss Media Forum” he said: “In crisis situations, forecasts are not good communication.” Because forecasts would rarely come true. Better to tell hospitals to prepare for the worst.
The chairman of the scientific working group defends the forecasts. The goal is to show what happens when the population and politics make no effort. “The intent of these forecasts is to initiate efforts,” Ackermann said. So that you don’t exactly enter the state of overcapacity.
A delicate balancing act for the experts
Rudolf Hauri, president of the Cantonal Medical Association, admitted today that the calculations for the intensive care capacity limit were inaccurate. “You still have room for maneuver,” Hauri explained. For example, hospitals could obtain additional staff from private clinics and operate additional intensive care units that are not included in current statistics.
For experts, especially those in the scientific working group, this second wave is a delicate balancing act: you want to shake people up and influence their behavior. And at the same time, they have to hope that their credibility is not damaged by predictions that do not come true.
«Tagesschau» 7.30pm
