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50 percent of Greeks locked up since Thursday
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis calls for a total closure of Athens in light of the growing number of cases. In the capital, schools and many shops, among other things, will be closed from Thursday until the end of the month, he announced in a televised speech. About half of the Greek population is affected by the measure.
Expansion of the health emergency in France
The French parliament has approved an extension of the health emergency until June. The National Assembly gave the green light with 278 votes in favor and 193 against. The state of emergency in the health sector was introduced in March last year due to the corona pandemic.
It provides a legal framework for the restrictions, which include a curfew at 6 p.m. The health emergency ran until the summer of 2020 and was then reintroduced in October due to events in France.
US President: Teachers Should Get Vaccinated as a Priority
US President Joe Biden advocates giving priority to vaccinating teachers. However, Biden wants to have the advice of scientists for a comprehensive reopening of schools on the subject, announced the US Presidential Office. The CDC is expected to release guidelines for resuming classroom teaching later this week.
Merkel against any relief from the crown before March 1
According to various German media, there are indications of an extension of the lockdown beyond February 14 in Germany ahead of the meeting between Prime Minister Angela Merkel and the Prime Minister of the federal states on Wednesday. Merkel advocates an extension until March 1.
The media also refer to a preliminary decision document of the Prime Minister’s Conference. However, this is only a draft. Therefore, no date is given until which the blockade will be extended.
Those who refuse to wear masks provoke a scandal in the Czech parliament
Two right-wing MPs sparked a mask scandal in the Czech parliament: Lubomir Volny and Marian Bojko were initially reprimanded because they refused to cover their mouths and noses, as reported by the CTK agency on Tuesday.
When they did not respond, the Speaker of Parliament, Radek Vondracek, expelled the two opposition politicians from the room. “If you came especially for this,” he said in their direction, accusing them of deliberately provoking. The butlers accompanied them to the door.
Three PCR tests are required in the UK
The British government is tightening its travel regulations again in the coronavirus pandemic: In the future, people traveling to England will have to present two other tests during a ten-day quarantine in addition to a negative corona test on arrival, according to the British Health Minister. Matt Hancock. Similar regulations will be introduced in other parts of the country, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the minister said.
Therefore, PCR tests are scheduled for days two and eight of the quarantine and must be booked through an online platform before starting the trip. Travelers have to pay the expenses themselves. The new rules should go into effect next Monday.
St. Gallen does not conduct mass testing in schools
After the federal government has adjusted its testing strategy, several cantons are already doing large-scale corona tests in schools or have planned it. For this reason, the testing strategy itself has been verified, said St. Gallen canton doctor Danuta Zemp in front of the media.
It is now concluded that the “targeted testing approach” is desired to continue. Preventive and repeated testing of entire school buildings is dispensed with. “The effectiveness of this measure has not yet been proven,” says Zemp. Nor should there be massive testing in the general population of St. Gallen. Testing is still recommended as soon as someone has symptoms.
Zurich: relaxation in hospitals and homes
For once, there is good news regarding Corona: the burden on the Zurich Triemli and Waid City Hospital has noticeably decreased, reports the health department. Currently 31 patients with COVID are treated. And the number of infected residents in nursing homes has also decreased. However, the head of Health, Andreas Hauri, warns that the situation could change quickly again due to the spread of the crown mutation.
Departure from Tirol only with a negative PCR test
Austria is now imposing stricter measures in Tyrol in the fight against the spread of corona mutations. With the exception of East Tyrol, it will only be possible to leave the state for ten days with a negative corona test starting next Friday, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said in Vienna.
The outbreak of the South African variant is currently the largest known case of this type in the EU. If such a mutation spreads rapidly and strongly, it would again cost many lives, Kurz said. “And the path to normalcy will be delayed again for months.”
The press conference ended
Today’s press conference ends with the words of Virginie Masserey. Thanks for your attention. We will keep you posted on the corona crisis here on the live indicator.
Vaccine theft in Switzerland too?
Vaccines have apparently been stolen in some countries, notes a journalist. Also in Switzerland? “We know the deliveries on time and have handled them with the necessary care,” said Bock of the FCA. He could not and would not say more about it.
Ackermann: “There is no choice between healthy people and a healthy economy”
“There is no choice between healthy people and healthy businesses,” says Ackermann. Everything must go hand in hand. The purpose of the working group models is to show that within a few weeks there is a risk of exponential growth.
Masserey: “They depend on the pharmaceutical company”
A question about vaccines. Previously, he learned about the problems that cantons have with vaccines. What is BAG doing? Masserey says the cantons would like to see clarity. But it depends on the pharmaceutical company. Therefore, it is sometimes not known when exactly how many doses of vaccine will be administered.
Masserey: “Currently, the measures are well understood and accepted”
Is the federal government concerned if the population will continue to support the measures? “Currently, the measures are well understood and accepted,” Masserey said. You know the whole thing shouldn’t last forever. You have enough elements to clarify the situation and explain the situation to the population.
How can the decrease in the number of cases in the UK be explained?
Ackermann says that now you can’t answer that from a scientific point of view. But you know that the government of Great Britain has been very strict and has established many measures. We also know that if there are a large number of cases, people are more willing to follow the rules.
Characteristics of the Brazilian variant
A journalist wants to know what are the characteristics of the variant of the Brazilian virus. “It is more contagious: people who have already been infected by the original virus can become infected again,” explains Virginie Masserey.
Austria imposes an obligation of proof when leaving Tyrol
In view of the spread of the South African virus mutation, Austria is tightening corona measures for Tyrol. The country has now announced it. Therefore, a journalist wants to know if the Swiss border should not be closed as well. Christian Bock, director of the Federal Customs Administration, says he does not know the exact numbers, but there are few people in this area who would cross the border.
Is there enough sequencing in Switzerland?
Switzerland has been sequencing much more than before since the end of 2020, and in an international comparison there is a good understanding, Ackermann said. “As soon as the number of cases of mutations is high enough, you can better tell where they occur.”
In some places, for example in schools, hotspots have already been identified in Switzerland, according to Masserey. Masserey explains the sequencing procedure. There are two tools for that. With these two follow-up measures, it can be determined that there is an increase in mutations and which cantons are most affected.
Will I no longer be a problem?
Boubaker is asked if sickness is no longer a problem. He did not mention it in his part. Boubaker says that of course that’s a problem. But now it is important to look at the new variants, because without them the situation would be better. It says the number of people treated in hospitals today is roughly the same. Loosening the measures now would mean that many more people would have to be admitted again, Boubaker said.
On the psychological condition of people.
What about the psychological condition of people? A journalist would like to hear this from Martin Ackermann. “There are people in the working group who are dealing with this issue.” The issue is also discussed with BAG.
