by Alain Berset speaking about his experience as health minister in 2020 SRF In an interview with Swiss public television, SRF, Health Minister Alain Berset has acknowledged that Switzerland made mistakes in managing the coronavirus outbreak. “We were too lax,” Berset said, pointing out that in the summer – after the first wave – people had the feeling that the worst was over. “And then we were far too optimistic when we thought we could reopen the big events in the fall.” The worst thing, however, is to freeze and do nothing when dealing with a crisis, added Berset. And one thing is clear: “If you make mistakes, you have to correct them as quickly as possible.” The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed Berset’s own physical limits as well. As he told SRF, there were moments
Topics:
Swissinfo considers the following as important: 3) Swiss Markets and News, 3.) Swiss Business and Economy, Featured, Latest News, newsletter
This could be interesting, too:
Nachrichten Ticker - www.finanzen.ch writes Krypto-Ausblick 2025: Stehen Bitcoin, Ethereum & Co. vor einem Boom oder Einbruch?
Connor O'Keeffe writes The Establishment’s “Principles” Are Fake
Per Bylund writes Bitcoiners’ Guide to Austrian Economics
Ron Paul writes What Are We Doing in Syria?
Alain Berset speaking about his experience as health minister in 2020 SRF
In an interview with Swiss public television, SRF, Health Minister Alain Berset has acknowledged that Switzerland made mistakes in managing the coronavirus outbreak.
“We were too lax,” Berset said, pointing out that in the summer – after the first wave – people had the feeling that the worst was over. “And then we were far too optimistic when we thought we could reopen the big events in the fall.”
The worst thing, however, is to freeze and do nothing when dealing with a crisis, added Berset. And one thing is clear: “If you make mistakes, you have to correct them as quickly as possible.”
The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed Berset’s own physical limits as well. As he told SRF, there were moments during the first wave when he no longer knew whether it was day or night, weekday or weekend. He said he had never experienced anything like that before.
He said that people’s health had top priority, even if that required controversial measures like closing the schools for nearly two months – “probably the most difficult decision for us”. And despite the vaccine and better medicines, he believes that the virus “will not disappear so quickly”.
The Swiss way – which gives the individual cantons a lot of control – has its price, added Berset. “It demands personal responsibility, common sense and foresight from everyone. If that doesn’t work, we have to tighten the measures. That’s what we’ve done,” said the health minister, adding that he was impressed by the solidarity shown in the spring.
The SRF interview with Berset airs on Sunday, on SRF’s “Sternstunde Philosophie” programme.
You Might Also Like
Swiss care homes and hospitals charged for mouldy masks
2020-07-28
Expired, foul-smelling masks cost nearly a franc apiece for facilities in canton Bern at the start of the coronavirus crisis. As a healthcare worker told Swiss public radio, SRF, on Monday, some of the masks they had received earlier this year had to be recalled because they were covered in mildew.
Swiss economist says Covid-19 ‘winners’ should pay more tax
2020-08-31
Companies that netted their best-ever earnings during the coronavirus crisis should be subject to extra tax, finds one of Switzerland’s top economists.
Swiss regulator censures Bank Syz over money laundering
2020-09-26
The Swiss financial market regulator FINMA has reprimanded Bank Syz for breaching money laundering rules involving a business relationship with an Angolan client.
Techonology firm Ruag International to cut more jobs
2020-10-14
The Swiss aerospace and armament company, Ruag, says it will shed up to 150 jobs by the end of next year due to the coronavirus crisis.
Swiss investors still leaning heavily on fossil fuels
2020-11-10
The Swiss financial market invests too much in oil and coal production, according to a review of nearly 200 financial institutions.
Ex-Credit Suisse boss recruited by Rwandan government
2020-11-16
Tidjane Thiam, who resigned as CEO of Swiss bank Credit Suisse in February, has been tasked with using his connections to build up the Rwandan capital Kigali as an international business location, according to Swiss business newspaper Handelszeitung.
Switzerland bans flights from UK over new coronavirus
2020-12-23
Switzerland has joined other European countries in suspending flights from the United Kingdom and South Africa after reports of a fast-spreading new coronavirus strain.
Weekly SNB Sight Deposits and Speculative Positions: Nearly unchanged
2020-12-21
Update December 21, 2020: Nearly unchanged. Sight Deposits have risen by +0.1 bn CHF, this means that the SNB is intervening and buying Euros and Dollars: The change is +0.1 bn. compared to last week.
Tags: Featured,Latest news,newsletter