Switzerland’s government and health officials presented a coronavirus update yesterday. Key elements of the presentation are set out below.
The full coronavirus press update can be viewed above in German.
Closing borders is now pointless
Patrick Mathys, who is leading the coronavirus response at the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), said epidemiologically that closing the borders would achieve nothing and would not slow the spread of the virus. It’s too late. Perhaps if it had been done immediately it would have worked, he said.
Will the ban on gatherings be extended?
Mathys said he thinks so. We must prepare for it.
What about international trains?
Christian Bock, the federal customs director, said his department isn’t responsible for this decision, but said that there was no reason to stop trains.
Will there be enough hospital emergency space?
Patrick Mathys, said he didn’t know exact numbers but that there are still enough places. He also said that reschedulable operations, such as hip replacements, would be postponed if required.
Would this be over by mid-May?
Mathys thinks the epidemic could be over by mid-May but that it depends on many factors that are impossible to confirm at this stage.
Will struggling businesses get any aid?
This is not the focus right now but emergency lending would be an excellent measure, according to Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, director of SECO.
Partial unemployment applications accelerated
Ineichen-Fleisch, encouraged employers to use partial unemployment as quickly as possible to mitigate the cashflow impact of the epidemic on their businesses. Companies can now cut staff hours and pay within three days of applying, down from 10 days.
More on this:
FOPH website (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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Isabel says
We close nightclubs, but not cinemas, we close universities but not school-. This is Switzerland! Maybe they will close trains but not public transportation… and we can still enjoy Opera while people are dying.
petra says
true .. they didn’t realize that schools should be close immediately. otherwise the situation will be most worst.
Man says
Please, allowed to close all schools. Or will be too late. Who will be responsible when our child got this virus? The Swiss government do nothing!
Joel says
Anything to protect the lives of those using public transport? Recall it can be easily spread in the congested public transport
Joel says
Better to have all necessary precaution measures as soon as possible because the pandemic is very infectious
Anonymous says
A travel ban should have been imposed and it isn’t too late?!?!? What’s more is people should be told to stay home for 2 weeks- streets are crowded… what a waste of people’s tax money, this will last forever because of government actions.. what if this was a more serious outbreak?!?!
Childofgod says
Agree, nothing is too late… take drastic measures now to prevent further spread! This is not the fault of the World, so Governments need to step up and pay salaries of all affected! Many are living paycheck to paycheck….do not say they should have saved for rainy days like these! because the reality is the cost of living is very high! look at the rental rates in Switzerland! its ridiculous! and you get only a small cubby hole for that high price! Now its time to Reset the World, make it right….let all people be able to enjoy the beautiful earth we were blessed with..give each family, say 100K to start fresh….and then let the voters, put together what they would like to see, or how they would like nations to be ran. Rid the system of unfair Laws and policies, and replace with reasonable laws and policies. Eg. People should never have to pay Real Property Tax!, its extortion, because its like a lifetime mortgage. No government have the right to charge you to live in your own space you paid thousands for! Then when we reset the nation, we start with the 10 Commandments, now there ‘s reasonable Laws and policies
Ten Commandments
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall make no idols.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.
Keep reasonable lawas, not by taxing your citizens to poverty.
Stay safe everyone!
One Love!