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“It is not correct to say that it was not prepared” to cope with the epidemic, writes Alain Berset (archives).
KEYSTONE/PETER KLAUNZER
“The situation at the end of February-beginning of march will not happen again,” said the health minister Alain Berset. It also rejects the criticism that Switzerland was not ready.
“We have done the necessary. And then, we now know a lot more about the virus at the beginning of the crisis,” says Alain Berset in an interview published Tuesday in “Freedom” and “Le Nouvelliste”. “I am optimistic”, adds the minister.
If the situation has improved in Switzerland and in Europe, on a global scale, the number of new infections has never been so important, says the socialist. And to conclude: “we need an effective vaccine to be able to say that one has passed”.
Points to improve
When asked about the lack of preparedness of Switzerland, federal councillor retorted, “it is not correct to say that it was not ready”. The people of Fribourg explains that they were following this outbreak since January, with the launch of the task force to the federal Office of public health. “The system was ready”, insists Alain Berset, but as long as the virus was not known, the screening tests could not be made and then everyone wanted it.
He acknowledges, however, that there are some areas of improvement, and indicated that his department is in the process of reviewing the Plan pandemic with the actors concerned.
Some artists feel left behind. Questioned on the subject, the minister of culture indicates that the aid package amounts to date to 280 million swiss francs, which is more than the annual budget allocated to culture by the Confederation. Help, scheduled for two months, will be extended until September, and “we hope to return soon to some form of normality”, he adds.
(TTY/NXP)
Published today at 05h28-
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