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WHO: Vaccines alone are not enough
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against vaccines that will likely be available soon as the only means against the corona pandemic. “Vaccines alone will not do the job,” said WHO expert Mike Ryan in Geneva. Without a doubt, they are a powerful and effective tool. But many previous hygiene rules, such as social distance, wearing masks, and frequent hand washing, would still initially have to be adhered to. Health systems in many countries are on the brink of collapse despite their best efforts, Ryan said. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned of a growing attitude that the crown crisis was over. “The pandemic will keep us busy for a long time,” Tedros clarified.
Curfew in Turkey
Now there is a nationwide curfew for people in Turkey due to the crown. It went into effect this Friday at 7 pm (9 pm local time). Until Monday morning, people can only leave the door between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to shop at the nearest store, according to an order from the Interior Ministry. Delivery services can also deliver at the same time. Delivery to restaurants and cafes is allowed between 10 am and 8 pm
The curfew ends Monday morning at 5 am local time. Unless the government orders otherwise, there should also be curfews in the coming weekends. Tourists, for example, are exempt from the rules. Other rules apply to people under 20 and over 65: They are not allowed out of the door during curfew.
From 5pm to 10am the next day, no one is allowed to walk out the door in Turkey this weekend.
Keystone
Zurich retailer criticizes federal government tightening
Stores must now include ten square meters per customer instead of the previous four. This action by the Federal Council sparked outrage among the Association of the City of Zurich. “It is incomprehensible to me that we have to tighten our belts again,” President Milan Prenosil said when asked by SRF. Because stores are not where most people get infected.
Furthermore, retail has implemented the measures excellently in recent months. “If we now have to limit our number of clients again, the Christmas business is over for most of them,” Prenosil said. In the coming weeks, Zurich stores generated up to 30 percent of their annual turnover.
Schaffhausen tightened the measures
In the canton of Schaffhausen, the following measures will apply from Sunday, December 6 at midnight:
- It must be between 11 pm and 6 am Take away food establishments stay closed.
- Gym, Indoor pools, Dance studios, Fitness and wellness centers, Ice sports facilities and the interiors of other sports facilities and stadiums, including changing rooms, will be closed.
- There are exceptions for school sports lessons at levels I and II of primary and secondary school, as well as for professional athletes.
- Playrooms Y Casinos, Interiors of Leisure and entertainment establishments (namely museums, cinemas, theaters, youth meeting places or bowling and billiards centers) and erotic shops will be closed.
- Events with more than 15 people are prohibited. The assemblies of political bodies are exempt from this.
- Schaffhausen is the first canton to run the Two Household Rule a: 10 people can still meet at home, but now only from two different households. People from a maximum of two households can also meet at restaurants.
- For Christmas, the previous rule applies again with no limit per household.
One of the reasons for the hardening is the situation at the Cantonal Hospital in Schaffhausen. Due to the high number of patients with Covid-19, it is reaching its limits. On Thursday, three people had to be transferred to intensive care units in hospitals outside the canton. The number of people who tested positive every day has recently stalled at a high level in the canton.
Ski areas take a deep breath
Mountain railways are responding more easily to the Federal Council’s decision to waive capacity restrictions in ski areas.
“Many measures that go beyond the federal government requirements have already been implemented by companies or are about to be implemented,” Engelberg-Titlis Tourismus AG writes at the request of the AWP news agency. Among other things, a Covid officer must ensure that the measures are implemented quickly and efficiently. The financial impact of the decision is still difficult to assess, the company continues.
The Engadin St. Moritz Tourism Organization also welcomes the fact that the new Federal Palace measure package does not include any capacity restrictions for ski areas. However, travel restrictions for guests from neighboring countries are causing discontent in the Engadine. The company writes that the absence of foreign tourists is a severe blow, which is unlikely to be offset by the high number of Swiss tourists.
The canton of Friborg relaxes the crown measures
The canton of Friborg is approaching federal measures. The canton government informs that museums, art galleries and ski areas will be able to reopen from December 10. The reopening of restaurants has already been announced. The discos and cabarets, however, remain closed.
From December 19, cinemas, theaters and concert halls should also open in Freiburg, with a maximum of 50 people per room. The reopening of the ice rinks is also allowed, but sports involving physical contact are still prohibited.
Other leisure facilities will be closed, including the gym. Exceptionally, they may be opened to patients accompanied by health professionals from December 10. Otherwise they remain closed.
The press conference is ready
This ends the press conference with Federal Councilor Alain Berset. Thanks for your attention. At this point, we will keep you informed about the situation with the corona virus.
There are no people with symptoms of Covid-19 in the ski resorts
The new regulation establishes that people with symptoms of Covid 19 cannot enter the ski area. “How should it be implemented?” Asks a journalist.
Ski areas can request a self-declaration from guests and draw the attention of guests to the fact that they are not allowed to enter the ski area with symptoms, says the manager of legal services at the BAG. Ski areas would not have to perform clinical diagnoses for Covid-19 on their own.
What moves are affected by the 2/3 rule?
Michael Gerber, Head of the Legal Department at BAG, says that only appropriate slopes are intended for ski areas. Trains like the “Lötschberger” are excluded from this rule.
Return to the extraordinary situation?
No, says Federal Councilor Alain Berset. The extraordinary situation was declared in March because the situation at that time required it. A legal situation was required, and then there was the Covid Law. It is important to have the instruments or not. They currently have the necessary instruments and there is no reason to return to the extraordinary situation.
Should the Federal Council have intervened earlier?
More recently, there was a 20 percent drop in the number of cases compared to the previous week, Alain Berset recalls the situation at the last meeting of the Federal Council 10 days ago. That was still a very good sign at the time. Now the situation has not developed as expected in a short period of time. Therefore, a decision must now be made quickly. Control has not yet been lost, says Alain Berset.
What is the Federal Council doing against domestic tourism?
Berset believes that there have been no strict borders in Switzerland since 1848. A similar situation exists between Baselland and Basel-Stadt. According to the Federal Council, this tourism within Switzerland does not play an important role, but it is rightly discussed. Outside of the pandemic, there are also different rules between cantons. Such are our federal structures. However, Berset is pleased that western Switzerland has found coordination with restaurants.
Berset: “We are not yet taking stock of the Swiss style”
Has the “Swiss Way” failed, a journalist asks?
It’s hard to take stock now. You’re halfway there, says the Federal Council. It was seen that, as in French-speaking Switzerland, the situation could be controlled. Hospitals have not yet been overloaded. But that can still happen if you don’t have the situation under control.
Could action be taken for all of Switzerland next week?
He still can’t say that, says Alain Berset. But rather suspicious of measures for individual regions. You can see pretty well what measures have had an impact in recent months. The aim is to prevent an undesirable situation in the various regions, but also to avoid consequences for the whole of Switzerland.
Berset: “We don’t know what the situation is like at Christmas”
The interior minister says the next 20 days are “crucial.” It is not known how the situation will develop. You don’t understand everything either. It can only be seen that the number of cases is declining most dramatically in French-speaking Switzerland. Therefore, the stricter measures in these cantons are having an effect. There is no telling what the situation will be like at Christmas. One only hopes that the situation has improved by then.
Last time to act, do you have time until next week?
Berset says he doesn’t like this flat curve at all. The 1000 cases scheduled for Christmas are now very far away. Thank goodness, but the curve doesn’t increase everywhere. But now it is crucial to think of new measures.
The declaration of the National Council was noted
The National Council yesterday presented an urgent declaration on the ski areas. “Did that do nothing?” Asks a reporter.
Some of the thematic points of the session have been addressed here. For example, what refers to the obligation to limit contacts. According to the Interior Minister, a weaker version was adopted here. The “only” capacity restriction for closed vehicles in the ski areas is also a result of this. But it is also important to include the recommendations of scientists and specialists.
How does the federal government view the massive Graubünden test?
Berset is somewhat skeptical about the tests. But anything that helps you gain new knowledge is a good thing, he emphasizes. Virginie Masserey from BAG says that of course BAG is interested in this pilot.
Special situation and responsibility of the federal government
The Federal Council deliberately delegated responsibility to the cantons in the particular situation. Now the Federal Council is threatening the cantons, they do not go hand in hand, says a journalist.
For Alain Berset, the special situation does not mean “indifference” on the part of the federal government. According to the Minister of the Interior, some measures in western Switzerland were taken too late. One cannot afford to simply wait for early December.
Which cantons should be tougher?
Now we come to the questions of the journalists. In response to the first question, Federal Councilor Berset said that he is always in close contact with the cantons. Statistics would show where other measures are appropriate.
