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Federal Councilor Viola Amherd, Federal Councilors Alain Berset and Ueli Maurer gave information on the current situation and promised help at today’s press conference.
The army supports hospitals: According to Defense Minister Viola Amherd, several cantons have submitted requests for military support. The Federal Council had decided on a new service to assist the army. This includes a maximum of 2,500 military members and volunteers must be used. They are used when requested by the cantons and the subsidiarity requirements are met. The resolution should apply until March 31, 2021 at the latest.
The military can provide support in the following areas:
- Basic care and treatment personnel, pre-diagnosis, detection of suspected cases of Covid-19 and corresponding test smears
- Personnel and material for intensive care units
- Transport of infectious patients
Federal Counsel Viola Amherd
Keystone
Measures for busy people: The Federal Council is now extending Corona’s earnings compensation, which is based on the passed Covid-19 law, to other people:
- People in a position similar to that of an employer when the company closes
- People in a position similar to that of an employer in case of event ban
- Freelancers and people in a position similar to that of an employer with a significant drop in sales
Berset plans to meet with representatives of the cultural sector shortly to define the next steps.
Federal Councilor Alain Berset
Keystone
Sports clubs should be supported: The federal government is supporting them with a loan totaling 350 million Swiss francs. Since sporting events may continue to be held with little or no spectators in the coming months, the federal government is also verifying the contributions of the à-fonds-perdu. The situation will continue to be monitored.
The federal government wants to quickly support the poverty program of the cantons: In the autumn session, the parliament decided the possibility for the federal government to participate in cantonal aid in cases of economic hardship for companies especially harmed by Corona, in particular for “companies in the value chain of the events industry, showmen, service providers in the travel industry and tourism companies. ” The federal government should contribute 50 percent of the cantonal expenses in cases of hardship.
Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer says there is no need for a national loan program today because there is no total lockdown. It is important to define the cases of difficulty. According to him, the hardship rule is expected to take effect in early December 2020.
Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer
Keystone
Federal Councilor Alain Berset appeals to intercantonal solidarity: Hospitals and cantons must work together, help each other and, for example, better distribute patients. In addition, elective interventions should be postponed.
Across Switzerland, around a third of intensive care units are occupied by Covid patients. It would also be more difficult than in the spring for more caregivers to now be quarantined in the second wave. In recent days, several hospitals have also announced that the staff situation in particular is tense.
