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Most of the Covid victims have died since the beginning of October.
Three-quarters of the people in Switzerland and Liechtenstein who have lost their lives to the virus since the start of the corona pandemic have died since the beginning of October 2020. About half of them lived in nursing homes and nursing homes .
This comes from a report, Link opens in a new window released by the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) on Friday. Consequently, more men (54 percent) died than women (46 percent). More than 90 percent of the deceased were over 70 years old and most had at least one previous illness.
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Isn’t the test offensive too late?
Such a test offensive has been around for a long time in France, notes a journalist. Isn’t the Federal Council late with this change? “The fact that we now have saliva tests allows us to go one step further.” It all took time. Now is the right time to begin the test offense, says Berset.
Why is the federal government waiting until March 15 with the test offensive?
“As long as we do not have a consultation, we cannot implement the main test offensive. We want to comply with the constitution and it seems to us that in the current situation we have enough time to question the cantons and the social partners, ”Berset replied.
Does the testing strategy also apply to children?
Does the testing strategy also apply to children? “It also affects them,” says Fosca Gattoni, BAG’s deputy director of therapeutics law.
Testing as an alternative to vaccination?
Can testing be an alternative to vaccination? This is what a journalist asks the Federal Council. “The tests are supposed to be a good answer, they are not meant to last forever.” But testing is not considered an alternative to vaccination, says Berset.
Can delivery bottlenecks be compensated for?
“So far, we have two vaccination products on the market. The bottlenecks in the supply of vaccines in February are known, but it is likely that they can be compensated in the second quarter of 2021. Volumes increase every month, ”says Alain Berset.
“We have already bought 32 million doses of vaccines. However, there are many unknowns when it comes to vaccine deliveries and approvals. The objective remains that we have enough doses to be able to vaccinate everyone who wants before the summer. “
Berset sees no risk of losing sight of things
Can the federal government lose control of the pandemic if people are tested at home? A journalist would like to hear from the Federal Council. “You have to differentiate between rapid tests and self-assessments.” With self-tests there is no risk of losing your overview, says Berset. “There is a lot more evidence, and the more evidence, the better we know where we are.”
Where will self-assessments be available?
“The self-tests that you can use to smear yourself at home are a bit like a toothbrush. These self-checks can probably be obtained at the pharmacy. You will not be able to buy them everywhere, because we have to check that not all of them carry out more than five self-tests a month ”, answers Alain Berset. “If these self-tests are not reliable enough, we will not do it.”
Berset: It is legitimate to ask about the privileges of the examinees.
What about the privileges of the people being evaluated? “We are developing tests.” The question of privilege will come, says Berset. “You also have the right.” Even when it comes to privileging vaccinated people, you have to look very closely at the matter. “This question will still occupy us.”
What role do cantons play in mass testing?
A journalist would like to know what role the cantons play in mass testing. “The consultation based on the Covid Law also affects the parliamentary committees, not just the cantons,” says Berset. The opinion of the cantons is important because they have to implement the whole logistically. “The cantons are making good progress.” In the coming months, more doses of vaccines will also be available.
Berset: “We do what we can for gastronomy”
According to a survey by Gastro Suisse, 20 percent of those surveyed had to permanently cease operations, and another 20 percent are about to take this step. What does the Federal Council say about it ?, asks a journalist.
“The financial support of the Federal Council is a decisive factor. The companies affected cannot be held responsible for their dire situation; We are doing everything we can to ensure that these caterers can resume operations as soon as possible. “
Berset: “We don’t want to lose control”
The test offense would fit alongside the easing steps, Berset says. “The development of vaccination and testing in particular allows us to make risk-based relaxation considerations.” The situation is not stable yet. However, it should be possible to take more steps to loosen up, but this must be done carefully. “We don’t want to lose control.”
Does the Federal Council have any logistical problems?
Low long-term testing capabilities remind one journalist of the beginning of the pandemic, when the federal government said that due to a lack of masks, masks were useless. The media representative wants to know if the Federal Council has a logistical problem.
“We never said you shouldn’t try as much as possible,” denies Alain Berset. “We tried to do as much as possible with the amount of evidence that we had. With masks at the start of the pandemic, we trusted experts who said masks were problematic. Today we are smarter. ”Comparison of tests with masks is not allowed.
Berset: “We need more data on self-tests”
A journalist wants to know from the Federal Council if there is a different assessment between the BAG and the Federal Council with respect to self-assessments. It’s not just about home testing, says Alain Berset. This offensive test will also make it easier to identify infected people. “Self-assessments are an additional tool.” However, you still need data here to be able to assess whether these tests can actually identify the right people. This will happen in the next few weeks and self-assessments will also be available.
“Testing is not a panacea”
Testing more is an important step in ending the pandemic, but: “It is not a panacea,” says Berset. Measures such as the use of masks or hand disinfection should be maintained. Berset now makes his statements in German. The costs of the test offense are high, says Berset. But you have to see everything in relation.
Berset: “Testing remains voluntary”
“The federal government will pay the costs of all these tests; in companies, schools, pharmacies. Self-assessments and tests at the test centers will also be free from March 15. Anyone that is positive must be found and sent to isolation. However, the tests are still voluntary, ”says Berset.
The federal government also bears part of the costs of the cantons, about 65 million francs. Overall, the Federal Council estimates the cost of the massive test offensive at around 1 billion francs. “We will go back in the right direction.”
Free trials for everyone starting March 15
“As of March 15, the federal government wants to cover the costs of all corona tests. We are now in a situation where we have sufficient evidence and testing capabilities for analysis and therefore we can cope with that, ‘explains Federal Councilor Berset. “These comprehensive and systematic tests are important and the new testing strategy is now being submitted for consultation.” Self-assessments for everyone and repeated tests in businesses and schools are also important.
The Federal Council wants to start a major test offensive
The Federal Council has always adapted its strategy to the epidemiological situation, Berset said. “This frame is like a triangle with the three corners of the tests, the vaccination and the openings. We have more and more tests and if we advance in one point, it also affects the other points. So, if we can do more tests and vaccinate, we will soon be able to open the doors more ”, explains the Minister of Health.
You want to start a great test offense in Switzerland, so Berset. “We want to further simplify access to testing and make it possible for all residents.”
Berset: “There was a minute of silence for everyone”
Federal Councilor Alain Berset opened the press conference and returned to the minute of silence this afternoon. “This minute of silence should be for all the fatalities and also provide support to all who have been working for a year to ensure that we have this crisis under control.”
