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Paul Seewer
Alain Berset puts his feet back on the ground. After weeks of criticism of his crisis policy, the Health Minister went on the offensive on Friday. He convinced the Federal Council of a test strategy that shows a way out of the current situation between lethargy and confusion. A strategy that could allow the pandemic to be controlled without further paralyzing economic and social life.
Covid tests must be carried out at least once a week in companies and schools in the country. Or there are saliva tests; samples are collected and analyzed in the laboratory. Alternatively, in some cantons, unpleasant tests are carried out with a nasal swab. From a logistical point of view, it is a moon landing and consequently the costs are high.
Berset delayed his release for a long time. In principle, the state government announced the prospect of funding massive tests starting in January. But it turned out that the cantons would have had to overcome huge administrative hurdles to get this money. So far, only Graubünden, the Basel area and Zug have prescribed regular mass examinations; these cantons can now show the first promising results. All the others resisted. Canton doctors advised against it, governments avoided cost and hassle.
Berset’s plan is now under discussion and will definitely go into effect in a few days. Hopefully, the cantons will find it easier to obtain Berne grants, and they won’t be able to avoid finally starting with extensive testing. There is a risk that some cantons will be desperately overwhelmed, at least in the initial phase. Money alone does not solve any organizational problem.
Hence the question: Is there no alternative to frequent tests in companies and educational institutions?
Rapid tests for home use, which do not require a laboratory but give a result in minutes, would in fact be much easier to use. Austria relies entirely on this method and Alain Berset also wants to incorporate it into his strategy. Although such tests are not yet approved in this country, Berset announced that every Swiss citizen should take five of them every month. One day, for example, they could be used before going to a restaurant.
This DIY procedure can be justified as a supplementary measure. Of course, today’s self-tests are not suitable as a pillar of support for an open concept. Studies show: Infected people without symptoms are only discovered in rare cases. This means that carriers of the virus can walk through the area with a clear conscience and infect others. The pandemic cannot be controlled in this way.
Asian countries chose another option. Taiwan and South Korea, and especially China, rely with virtually no restrictions on digital surveillance to contain the pandemic. Of course, that is out of the question for Switzerland.
Yes, with its testing offensive, the Federal Council is walking the more complex path, the path of superior analog technology. But which approach would be more suitable for Switzerland, a country of strong precision mechanics?
However, there is a downside to the good news on Friday. The fact that mass testing has to be sped up shows that vaccination is not progressing as well as expected.
