Faced with the increase in the number of daily infections and the small increase in the number of new vaccines, the authorities may have to take new measures. They should provide the majority of the population with a third booster dose from December.
KEYSTONE
Faced with the stagnation of new vaccinations, it is time to promote other measures, including booster vaccinations, believes the President of the Confederation Guy Parmelin.
The Federal Councilor is convinced that the third dose of vaccine will soon be extended to the entire population. “There comes a time when we have to admit that we can no longer convince many people to be vaccinated,” admits the President of the Confederation in an interview published in the NZZ am Sonntag.
As in Switzerland the majority of the population had the possibility of receiving a second dose from mid-June, the booster, necessary six months later, should begin in December, added the president of the Covid-19 scientific task force of the Confederation. With this third dose, protection against the virus should reach 95%, added Tanja Stadler, interviewed in the SonntagsZeitung.
But this booster dose may not be enough. According to the director of the Conference of Cantonal Directors of Health Lukas Engelberger, the vaccination week only allowed a slight increase in the weekly number of people receiving a first dose. Ms. Stadler estimates that if Switzerland continues as before, 30,000 additional hospitalizations can be expected, she warns.
“No other choice”
She believes that the political world will have no other choice but to seriously consider new measures in the coming weeks. Otherwise, hospitals will be overcrowded again and the virus could kill more people.
The president, however, hopes that large-scale closures can be avoided. Other means must be used before arriving at this situation. The health pass could, for example, be compulsory in the workplace. Another avenue would be to make it compulsory to wear a mask during demonstrations also for people with a certificate.
Frictions between the cantons?
However, the Federal Council does not wish to resort to stricter rules unless they are absolutely necessary. “What will happen if the health system is once again at its limits during the 5th wave and patients have to be transferred to other cantons?” Asks Mr. Parmelin.
Because, recalls the Vaudois, the vaccination rate varies greatly from one canton to another. “Will a canton with a high vaccination rate always be willing to take care of unvaccinated persons from a canton with a low rate?” Or will he refuse to do so or will he demand financial compensation? ”. It is also for this reason that it is important that the cantons concerned continue their efforts in terms of vaccination, underlines the Minister.
This week, the “2G” rule, or the fact of limiting access to certain places to only people cured of Covid-19 or vaccinated, was invited into the debate in Switzerland. Several epidemiologists have expressed themselves on this question in the press. They are however skeptical of this measure. Guy Parmelin recalled that it was not on the agenda in Switzerland.
Opponents raised
Opponents of the control measures taken by the authorities took to the streets again on Saturday. A demonstration took place on Saturday afternoon in Geneva, bringing together around 2,500 people.
Led by about thirty “Freiheitstrychler” bell ringers, the procession did not give rise to any incident, according to the Geneva police. Several speakers castigated the Covid law submitted to a vote on November 28, denouncing a dangerous hardening. They attacked the authorities’ “lies” about the health crisis.
In Zurich, they were several hundred to demonstrate. Several speakers also criticized the media for spreading a message of fear instead of a critical approach to the decisions of the authorities.
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