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Martin Ackermann: “The measures should be applied in the long term”
The Federal Council still leaves the duration of the measures open. The head of the working group advises that they should not be loosened too soon. That happened after the spring. He was convinced that the measures would have to be applied in the long term, for example six months.
Martin Ackermann: “Measures will reduce infections”
The head of the federal task force, Martin Ackermann, explains in the Rundschau special that the measures decided today would certainly make a difference. But the question is how much they will do. The so-called R-value, which is currently 1.6, must be reduced.
“It will be very tight,” continues Martin Ackermann. Without a doubt, the number of cases and hospitalizations will continue to increase. But now we could all contribute something to prevent it from becoming too much.
Stop in France until December 1
French President Emmanuel Macron announced 36,437 new infections at the beginning of a highly anticipated speech, a record. The virus is spreading faster than anticipated, he explains. New measures are needed.
It then announced a shutdown until December 1. However, schools would remain open, according to Macron. However, exit restrictions apply throughout the country. The restrictions will apply from Friday, President Emmanuel Macron announced in the televised address.
In two weeks, however, they will see if it is possible to reopen stores that are not vital immediately.
Graubünden awaits the winter season: mixed feelings in eastern Switzerland
The canton of Graubünden welcomes the crown rules that are now uniform throughout Switzerland. The objective is to curb the number of cases to avoid overloading the health system. The Graubünden government announced that the new measures are decisive for the economy, tourism, as well as sport and culture. But they hope that a stable epidemiological situation can be achieved at the beginning of the winter season.
St. Gallen Health Director Bruno Damann has also reacted to the stricter measures. Beforehand, the canton had voiced criticism against a harder pace. “It would have been sensible if the cantons had decided and not the federal government,” says Damann.
It sounds similar from the canton of Thurgau. Health director Urs Martin accepts the new regulations with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the uniform regulations are good, but Martin believes they are now more far-reaching than would have been necessary in eastern Switzerland.
Hallenstadion expects concert cancellations in mid-2021
The director of the Zurich Hallenstadion, Philipp Musshafen, feels “internally empty”. “We only have expenses and there is no money,” he told SRF News. Now he expects concert cancellations in mid-2021 and says, “I understand that the federal government has to do something, but I question the ban on major events.” Instead of going to the Hallenstadion, where there is a well thought out concept of protection, many people would now attend events in private, often without sufficient distance.
In the meantime, the Tonhalle Maag in Zurich has stopped operating until further notice. The Tonhalle Orchestra and the conducting would very much regret this, Tonhalle announced. They want “with all their hearts that the situation improves” and that they can hold concerts again in December.
The KKL in Lucerne expects drastic consequences for its operations after the federal government has banned cultural events with more than 50 people. “For us, this is a de facto lockdown,” CEO Philipp Keller told SRF News. “This week we would have had concerts for more than 1000 people, now we all have to postpone or cancel them permanently.”
Reactions from the sports sector
The football and ice hockey associations are reacting to the crown’s restrictions. The Swiss Football League sees the existence of the clubs threatened, but the season should continue. Swiss ice hockey is also financially worried. There is still uncertainty about the course of the current season.
Marc Gianola, CEO of the Davos Hockey Club, told SRF News that he was not surprised. Show understanding that health comes first. HCD now expects a deficit of six to seven million francs for the current season.
Matthias Hüppi, president of FC St. Gallen, is also not surprised by the measures. Now you try everything to avoid having to claim loans from the federal government. Ancillo Canepa, president of FC Zurich accepts the Federal Council’s decision, but demands that sport be supported as well as culture.
The economy is relieved: unions call for controls
“Measures yes, closures no,” the Economiesuisse business association wrote in a statement. The measures taken by the Federal Council are unavoidable in view of the high number of cases and the increasing burden of health facilities. But compared to a shutdown, they are portable.
The economy fears new closures. A partial shutdown of the economy should be avoided at all costs, especially in the face of the Christmas business and the winter sports season, Economiesuisse explains. If pre-Christmas sales collapse, a wave of bankruptcies is inevitable.
Unions also welcome the stronger pace of the Federal Council. The Swiss Confederation of Trade Unions (SGB) believes that additional measures are needed to contain the pandemic and for the healthcare system not to be overloaded., Link opens in a new window fest.
The main sources of contagion are outside the world of work, which is also related to the protective concepts developed by companies, continues the SGB. It is even more important to carry out more controls and identify the “black sheep” so that all companies have effective protection concepts.
Mayor: “Life in the city of Zurich has been greatly affected”
Corine Mauch, mayor of Zurich, says the new rules are “correct and regrettably necessary.” It is good that the federal government has taken the reins and that the same rules now apply everywhere. Corine Mauch is not at all pleased that Zurich has to shut down its nightlife and only 50 people can attend events. “Life in the city of Zurich has been greatly affected,” he says. Support from the gastronomy, events and culture industries is extremely important and must be done quickly.
Only four countries remain on the risk list
Belgium, Czech Republic, Andorra and Armenia: The Federal Council only classifies these four states and three areas of France as regions with a higher risk of coronavirus infection. This article provides an overview of adjustments to risk areas.
End of the press conference
This ends the Federal Council press conference. Thanks for your interest. We will keep you updated, here on the ticker at srf.ch/news and from our radio and television colleagues.
A summary of the measures reported today can be found in the following article.
Was it wrong to allow important events again?
The situation was different in the summer, Alain Berset said. Nor can you stop living. But it was equally clear that it was necessary to react again, in view of the development. Hence the renewed ban, according to the Federal Council.
How much money is available for difficult cases?
This is part of the discussion with the cantons, Guy Parmelin said. The regulations will be published in early November. It applies that a company must show a turnover of less than 60 percent from the previous year to be eligible. This will also affect the quantity.
Maybe it’s already a positive sign
“Hopefully it is a positive sign,” says epidemiologist Stefan Kuster about the fact that the number of cases has not doubled in a week. The number of individual days should not be overweight. It is clear: the number of reproductions has to drop significantly to control this pandemic.
Geneva and Freiburg want the help of the army. What does the Federal Council say about it?
The two cantons have already submitted a request for help and would like to use the army to help them cope with the pandemic. The Federal Council has not yet made a decision on this. Applications would be reviewed.
Soccer and Ice Hockey – Only ghost games all season long?
In professional sports there is a limit of 50 spectators, the measure is unlimited. Are there only ghost games in ice hockey and soccer all season long?
Alain Berset says he knows the clubs have worked hard and taken extensive action. And, of course, the 50 viewers are not directed at them. The fact that the measures announced today are unlimited does not mean that they will be applied for a long time. Federal Councilor Berset added that they will run for as long as necessary. You have to be flexible in this situation.
Will testing capabilities be sufficient?
You actually have very little evidence to control a pandemic, says Alain Berset. Therefore, you must use the tests efficiently.
Legal expert Gerber explains that the first rapid tests have already been delivered and distributed to the cantons.
What about physical education in schools?
The school is not affected by the restrictions, so class groups can continue to play sports, says legal expert Michael Gerber. The announcement in concrete terms: children under 16 are exempt from the rules.
Parmelin: “There will be contributions from A-Fonds Perdu”
There are areas that would already suffer a lot, such as the gastronomic or cultural panorama. Will there be contributions from the A-Fund Perdu? According to Guy Parmelin, the difficult cases rule currently provides for some contributions from A-Fonds Perdu. The regulation will now be drawn up with the cantons.
Will the police also monitor private homes?
The number of ten people gives about two families the opportunity to meet. But it is clear that there are many infections in private events. That is why these restrictions are necessary. The signal of these rules, including those of the restaurants, is clear: “Now we have to reduce contacts.”
Legal expert Gerber adds: It is not the objective that the police now control the neighborhoods and ring the bells of private houses to control. But of course it is not impossible.
Berset: “It’s not that complicated”
It is very complicated with the number of participants and the number of viewers, according to a journalist. Alain Berset responds that they simply looked for a middle ground, and regulation is not that difficult. It is easy for him to remember the rules. Of course, the cantons could have other measures as well, the Federal Council added. But you got used to the spirit of the cantonal league, that’s not a problem.
