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For Health Minister Alain Berset, the epidemiological situation is “encouraging, but not much more.” Wednesday afternoon he announced the Federal Council increases the loan for the acquisition of a Covid 19 vaccine from 100 to 400 million francs.
Shortly before, at lunchtime, the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) reported the latest figures, 8,270 new coronavirus infections in 24 hours. On Tuesday it was 5,980.
The epidemiological situation remains tense at a high level, Health Minister Berset told the Bundestag media on Wednesday. The challenge for the health system, especially hospitals, remains high. Some facilities are at the limit. The increase in numbers is slowing down.
The reproduction rate must drop well below 1 before the situation can relax. “Right now we are about 100 people infecting 100 people,” Berset said. He had the impression that the development of the last few days was “encouraging”, “but not much more.”
Federal Councilor Alain Berset speaks during a Federal Council press conference on Wednesday. (November 11, 2020)
Photo: Anthony Anex (Keystone)
Maximum value and additional hospital
The Canton of Ticino reported 482 new infections within 24 hours on Wednesday. This is the highest value on record since the pandemic began in spring. And as in the first Corona wave, the canton of Lucerne is now creating an additional Corona hospital in Nottwil.
For a Covid-19 vaccine, the federal government relies on several manufacturers, Berset said. There is a “binding reserve” for around three million doses of vaccination with Biontech / Pfizer. The federal government has already signed contracts with two other manufacturers. In August he got 4.5 million doses of Moderna and in mid-October up to 5.3 million doses of Astrazeneca.
Berset stressed that it is not yet possible to say when a vaccine will be available. He hopes very much that this will be the case next year. The FOPH assumes that the first vaccinations can be carried out in Switzerland in the first half of 2021.
Doctors want more voice
The medical networks mediX and mfe family and pediatricians Switzerland want official bodies to constantly involve them in planning and implementing measures to deal with the Covid 19 pandemic.
For most patients, they are the first point of contact, according to a position paper from the two associations published in the “Schweizerische Ärztezeitung” on Wednesday.
Federal Council measures
As in the spring during the first Corona wave, employers can use the contribution reserves they have saved in the occupational pension plan to pay for employee contributions. This has been decided by the Federal Council.
The Federal Council announced Wednesday that it wanted to cushion the economic consequences of the measures against the corona virus for businessmen. The measure is intended to make it easier for employers to overcome liquidity bottlenecks.
The Federal Council also wants to ensure that companies in Switzerland can maintain their innovative strength during the corona pandemic. It decided to launch a corresponding boost program with easier financing conditions.
With the “Innovation in Switzerland” push program, SMEs and companies with a maximum of 500 employees will receive financial support in 2021 and 2022. The total volume of funding for all innovation projects is 226 million Swiss francs.
The Federal Council will provide at least 1 billion Swiss francs for Covid hardship cases. This is what the Berne governing council demands in its response to the consultation published on Wednesday. The 200 million Swiss francs planned was far from enough. The cantons of central Switzerland also asked for more federal aid on Wednesday.
