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16:59
Media conference ended
The media conference is over. You can read about the most important proposals of the Federal Council, which are now being discussed here. Thank you for your interest and we will keep you up to date on the corona situation in the live ticker and on srf.ch.
16:53
Portugal and Denmark with higher vaccination rates
When asked why the Federal Council compared Switzerland, of all places, with Israel and the Netherlands in terms of the possibility of lifting the certificate requirement, Berset says: “In Denmark and Portugal, the vaccination coverage is much higher, so it is not comparable.”
16:51
What happens if the vaccination coverage is not achieved?
SRF journalist Oliver Washington would like to know from Alain Berset whether the exit from the measures can also be carried out if the targeted vaccination rate is not achieved? The next developments are difficult to estimate. Berset emphasizes, however, that it was never the vaccination coverage that he used as a criterion for repeal, but the occupancy rate of the hospitals.
16:47
Swiss certificate only valid in Switzerland
Berset makes it clear that a valid Covid certificate after an antibody test is only valid in Switzerland and does not entitle you to travel abroad. Because abroad, recovery with an antibody test does not usually apply. With the Swiss version of the certificate, however, it was possible to react quickly to the needs of society here in Switzerland.
16:47
Booster vaccination and the duration of the certificate
SRF Bundeshaus journalist Larissa Rhyn asks about the duration of the certificate and the booster vaccination.
“We’ll see what Swissmedic decides.” We do not yet know for which groups it will be necessary, says Patrick Mathys. The duration of the validity of the certificate will also be an issue again and again in the next few weeks, according to Berset.
16:43
Do you have to pay for the antibody tests yourself?
A journalist asks whether the antibody tests should be paid for?
“An average test costs around 70 francs,” says Alain Berset. The costs for the tests would have to be borne by the people themselves, the federal government would not assume the costs.
16:41
Public transport rules apply in cable cars
The Federal Council had discussed with the cable car association – also about the rules in public transport, these also apply to cable cars. “It’s difficult to see how this will develop. But with a good vaccination, the situation should improve. ” In addition, you drove well with masks in gondolas and railways last winter.
16:38
Certificate no comparison with last year’s measures
Berset emphasizes that the utilization of the hospitals is decisive for the exit from the certificate requirement. The measure is not comparable to the measures taken a year ago: “At that time the restaurants were closed in phases and events did not take place.”
16:37
Discussion of antibody tests
The journalists’ question and answer session has started. The Federal Council said in each case that antibody tests would not say much, notes a journalist. Why this step now?
“If someone goes through the disease, the protection should be sufficient,” explains Michael Anderegg, who is responsible for the Covid certificate at the Federal Office of Public Health.
Another journalist asks which antibody tests are allowed.
“Only tests that are accredited by Swissmedic will be approved,” says Patrick Mathys from the FOPH.
16:36
Relaxation domestically for those who have recovered
The Federal Council is making concessions to those who have recovered, whose certificate is now to be valid for twelve instead of six months in Switzerland. Anyone who has recovered but did not have a PCR test at the time of infection can prove recovery with an antibody test – this is a serological test, i.e. evidence in the blood – and receives a certificate for 90 days that is in Switzerland is valid.
In addition, the Swiss certificate should be valid for 30 days if someone has been given a vaccine approved by the WHO but not by Swissmedic or the EMA. People who cannot be vaccinated should also be given a code that makes it easier for them to access events that require a certificate.
16:30
Berset: “Vaccination is a game changer”
Alain Berset comments on the Covid vaccination: “It is a game changer.” In 90 percent of the cases, hospitalization in the intensive care unit would be prevented. The vaccination coverage in Switzerland is still too low. “Of course there will always be cases, but what is decisive is the burden on the health system.” And this can be reduced with a vaccination, so Berset.
16:28
The period of validity for those who have recovered should be adjusted
Alain Berset explains the “Swiss Covid Certificate”. The period of validity for those who have recovered should be adjusted and now be valid for one year. If the antibody test was positive, people would also receive a certificate for 90 days. The Minister of Health also explains the other proposals made by the Federal Council, which are now being discussed.
16:25
Experience from other countries included
The Federal Council also included the experiences of other countries in its analysis. The Minister of Health names Israel and the Netherlands. It was observed in both countries that the number of cases increased again after the opening and led to a very high burden on the hospitals. In both countries, the vaccination coverage at the time of opening was similar to what Switzerland has today. The increasing immunization slows down the circulation of the virus, but is still too deep to prevent further high waves of infection.
“We will continue to deal with the issue of the certificate requirement and will make another assessment of the situation in mid-November,” says Alain Berset.
16:23
“In the next days and weeks the weather will be colder”
The numbers are currently low, but there are still possible risks for the health system, said Berset. “The lifting of the certificate requirement would be too early.” In the next days and weeks the weather will be colder, and travelers returning are also a possible risk. The R value is also not low, and in some cantons the number of cases is rising again, according to Berset.
16:21
Berset: “Dark clouds still on the horizon”
“The epidemiological situation has been less good for a few days,” says Alain Berset. There are still “dark clouds on the horizon”. The Federal Council had come to the decision that due to the current situation, the certificate requirement should be retained.
16:20
Removal of the certificate requirement: Too early
Alain Berset told the media that the Federal Council had discussed the lifting of the certificate requirement. He came to the conclusion that even a partial repeal is currently associated with too high a risk for the health care system. The goal remains to keep the number of infections so low that the hospitals are not overloaded.
In the next few weeks, a renewed increase in infections is to be expected because people are again more often indoors and the autumn holidays are coming to an end. The Federal Council therefore only wants to relax the certificate requirement as soon as there is no longer any threat of overloading the hospitals – regardless of the vaccination coverage. The situation should be reassessed in mid-November.
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