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A general discussion is expected. Health Minister Alain Berset will be available to answer any questions. As part of the debate, the National Council will also decide on a motion by Olivier Feller (FDP / VD). It requires that pharmacies be allowed to perform serological tests to determine a corona infection.
In the interpellations, a parliamentary group from the center comes who wants to know what it will be like with an electronic “Covid-free test”. The Federal Council already wrote in a response published Monday that it was investigating whether a “proof of vaccination that is as counterfeit-proof as possible” would be needed, for example, to be able to adopt differentiated measures for Covid-free cases. or vaccinated people.
It should also be checked which legal, ethical and technical framework conditions must be observed. You would also need a formal legal basis. The Federal Council referred to an internationally coordinated procedure regarding a globally recognized electronic vaccination certificate (WHO project “Smart Vaccination Certificate”).
Contact tracing improvements
The questions of the Greens and the Liberal Greens go in a similar direction to those of the center group. The Greens focus on improvements in contact tracing, for example. The Federal Council announced that great efforts had been made in recent months to trace contacts. The national database for contact tracing is ready to use: 25 cantons are connected to it.
The Green Liberal Group, on the other hand, is asking itself questions about data collection. For example, you want to know where data is still being manually recorded or transmitted. According to the Federal Council, all those who must register can register digitally, but there are some doctors who prefer paper forms.
With regard to the data on the crisis, also in relation to the investigation, the Federal Council also wrote that Switzerland had wide access to the relevant EU bodies and networks that are responsible for tackling communicable diseases and the management of crisis.
Questions about the global distribution of vaccines
The SP’s parliamentary group asks itself slightly different questions. Their concern is global access to vaccines. For example, you want to know why the Federal Council is against a temporary restriction on patents on Covid-19 vaccines and if Switzerland is ready to provide surplus vaccine doses to the international Covax initiative for the distribution of corona vaccines in a way free.
The Federal Council denied the latter. Currently there is not so much vaccine available in Switzerland that the transmission of excessive doses is already a problem. With regard to patents, the Federal Council does not believe that it is appropriate to avoid the existing rules. In the current crisis in particular, a tried and tested international legal framework is needed.
Finally, another question comes from the SVP National Councilor Roland Büchel (SVP / SG). He wants to know if the Federal Council is ready to take the opening steps required by the National Council on March 22 in the declaration approved on Wednesday. In its response, the Federal Council indicated that it would decide and provide information on the content of the opening procedures from March 22 to March 19 (this Friday).
