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Mutation of the virus, start of vaccination, British tourists: Federal Councilor Alain Berset and Government Councilor Lukas Engelberger answered questions in Basel.
Federal Councilor Alain Berset today visited the vaccination center in Basel and then spoke at a press conference about the current situation of the crown in Switzerland.
Video: Keystone-SDA
The essentials in brief:
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“The rush for the first 5,000 vaccination appointments in Basel was enormous,” says Basel health director Lukas Engelberger.
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After the holidays, it is difficult to assess the current situation of the crown, explains Berset. “There are delays in reporting and we have much less evidence than before.”
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The latest ETH data for the R-value shows that Switzerland again fell below the 1 mark.
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The electronic vaccination record will be available from January 4.
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The virus mutations in Great Britain and South Africa are also of concern to the Swiss authorities.
Reading recommendations:
Numbers of guests and accidents – Balancing the slope of Christmas days.
New Corona variant – Do Swiss schools have to close due to the mutation of the virus?
Board – The latest figures on the Covid 19 outbreak in Switzerland.
The press conference is over.
“People come from different areas, like Spitex or doctor’s offices, which have now been partially reduced. Also from areas that have tended to focus on events. “
“There is criticism in both directions: some say it is going too fast, others that it is going too slow,” says Berset. “What we’ve been trying to do is get ready early with various shots. And the BAG didn’t do a bad job there. That is not something that can be taken for granted. We started when no one had mentioned vaccination. The goal was not just to have access, but to be able to determine when it would be available. The approval came a little earlier than expected. “
“We got off to a good start,” continues Berset. “But now it is also about starting a good campaign on this basis. The cantons are doing a good job and are now gaining experience with pilot vaccines that they can use if the vaccine is widely administered. But then it is also necessary for the population to participate. Vaccination is voluntary, but it is something important for you, for others and for our country to get out of this situation. We really hope nothing worse happens. “
“That is somewhat beyond my competence,” says Berset. “But we are following it. Of course, it is very important.” So far there have been no signs that the vaccine shouldn’t work. It is a new type of vaccination that can be adjusted quickly if necessary. “
Mathys adds: “At the moment, there is nothing to suggest that the vaccine should not work. We cannot rule it out, but the experts do not assume it ”. (Questions and answers about virus mutation)
“I will get vaccinated as soon as possible,” Berset said. “But it is clear that we do not have enough doses at the moment.”
Engelberger adds: “For vaccine skeptics: Vaccination is voluntary. We also ask for your trust. Swissmedic has high standards and applies them here too, which deserves confidence. “
Read about the topic: “The Federal Council will be vaccinated against Corona”
“It is good news that vaccination slots have been allocated so quickly,” says Berset. “I think that the majority of the population is behind the vaccination. It is something very important for you, but also when you want to protect others. It is an act of solidarity with the weakest. “
About the topic: Therefore, it is about the willingness to vaccinate in Switzerland, according to the results of the survey.
“Hospital personnel also belong to the group that is vaccinated in second priority,” Engelberger says. Regarding patients: “They also belong to the risk group, according to age or previous disease. As in nursing homes, they are also included in the system. “
“We follow the BAG vaccination strategy, where these people also get vaccinated early, but not first,” Engelberger said. “The number of cans in here is extremely limited,” adds Patrick Mathys.
“There are different strategies on how to vaccinate. The order in which the vaccines are now administered is considered the most effective variant for Switzerland. We would all like to get vaccinated, but right now we don’t have enough doses to do it, ”Mathys continues.
Daniel Uebersax, director of the Basel vaccination center: “Everyone who is vaccinated will now have another appointment in 21 days.” Alain Berset adds: “The fact that two doses of vaccine are needed is nothing new. The only new thing is that it is such a broad campaign. “
“This is the first time I’ve heard that the mutation affects other groups more,” says Berset. Patrick Mathys from BAG adds: “What we know with a reasonable degree of certainty is that the mutation is transmitted more quickly. We can rule out that it influences the severity of the disease. Everything else is speculation. It is a scientific hypothesis that affects younger people more often and we will not change our strategy based on this. It’s too early for that. “(Questions and answers about virus mutation)
“We have taken note of that,” Berset said. “That is, of course, a problem. I don’t know where they have gone. I think they went home. But the federal government has no options, we are not responsible for enforcement. We had to react quickly because not everything was going perfectly, that’s clear. “(go to the article)
“Residents of nursing homes, of course, are also in the group that should get vaccinated first,” Engelberger says. “Our impression is that it still takes time to get organized. In the case of vaccination, the will of the person to vaccinate must be clear. We can get started faster at the vaccination center here, but that will continue. “
“Of course of course. We need to see who is vaccinated and who is not. As with other vaccines, this is very important. Even for yourself,” says Berset.
Anne Levy, Director of BAG, adds: “Yes, we are in the process of completing this. The electronic vaccination record will be available from January 4, also for other vaccines. “
About the topic: Corona’s “freedom pass” debate – Sorry, vaccinated only
“We have not discussed any measures or have already planned them,” Berset explains. “I’m just saying that if the mutation leads to faster spread, we have to react. Decisions have been taken for the moment, the Federal Council has decided. “
“We are one of the countries that is investing the most in virus sequencing to detect mutations at an early stage,” Berset said. “If we invest a lot now, we can probably prevent hundreds of cases in a few months,” says Berset. (Questions and answers about virus mutation)
Regarding vaccination: “It is good that we have the vaccine now,” Berset said. But it is not a miracle cure. We must continue to pay attention to what we have done so far: hygiene, hand washing, mask, keep our distance ”.
After the holidays, it is difficult to correctly assess the current situation. “There are reporting delays and we have much less evidence than before. We will need a few days to see how the measures we have decided at the federal level are working, ”said Berset.
Positive: the positivity rate has not increased, although the number of tests has decreased.
However, what is clear is that the Swiss R-value has fallen below 1. This is shown in the latest ETH figures.
Berset further explains: “It was difficult. We took new measures and soon after the new mutation appeared, which leads to a higher infection rate, ”says Berset. It does not rule out that this could lead to tougher measures.
Alain Berset takes the floor. “The cooperation between the federal government and the cantons works very well,” said the Health Minister, thanking GDK President Engelberger. “It is also important for us to be in contact with the field, with the people who are working on it,” says Berset.
“We should not get used to the fact that the numbers remain high and stagnant,” says Berset. The Ips stations are busy. 73 percent of the places in Switzerland are occupied, about 60 percent of them by Covid patients. “(to the special: That’s how busy cantonal hospitals are)
“The rush for the first 5,000 vaccination appointments this week and the next was enormous,” Engelberger says. “If you don’t have an appointment yet, be patient.” It will take time, Engelberger said, but: “With vaccination we can beat the pandemic.” Vaccination is not a substitute for previously applicable standards of conduct. We all have to hold on! Yes, we can turn to a new page, but no, the pandemic will keep us busy. With vaccination, Covid-19 is far from over. “(also read: Everything you need to know about vaccination in Switzerland)
Engelberger reports from the intensive care unit of the Basel University Hospital. The picture presented is worrying. There, 20 patients from Basel are treated, but also from other cantons.
