Thread by @CoronaEnglish

(Thread)
BAG press conference on the #COVID19-situation in #Switzerland. 5.1.2021.
#CoronaInfoCH

Virginie Masserey (BAG): 'Reproduction rate is 0.89. 428 people with Covid are in intensive care units, in four cantons the occupancy of the intensive care beds is over 80 percent.'

The virus mutation is spreading in Switzerland, says Masserey (BAG). Less than 1% of the samples show this new variant. 'If you've been to the UK or have had contact with people from Great Britain, you should definitely get tested. With a PCR test and not a rapid test', she says.

The vaccination campaign has started in the cantons. People can register for the vaccination using an online tool. People could also create a digital vaccination booklet via mycovidbag. An official confirmation for the vaccination can also be printed out and presented there.

Vaccine: No person has shown serious side effects yet, says the @BAG_OFSP_UFSP. #Vaccine

The vaccine: '7 days after the 2nd shot (4 weeks after the first) you should be well protected against the Coronavirus', says BAG. #CoronaInfoCH #Vaccine

'We have a difficult three months ahead of us. The protective measures must still be observed. Easing is not expected before summer. If we relax too early, there will be setbacks.' #CoronaInfoCH

Switzerland doesn't have enough vaccine shots to vaccinate everyone before summer. As we know, the country prioritises elderly (75+) and med care staff in a first round. #CoronaInfoCH

'Since we a way too high infection rate anyways, we have to make sure that the mutation doesn't spread. Our contact tracers investigate very carefully and with a higher priority in cases where there is an infection with the mutated virus'

Journalist asks if there will be new measures due to the mutation of the virus.
– BAG: 'Our contact tracers will research cases with the new mutation with a higher priority. This should be enough. But if we see an increase in infections, we need new measures'.

BAG: 'Children are not a significant problem. We really want to try to keep schools open, as this is important for the children's everyday life. We don't see children as a big problem in the pandemic, but of course we need to observe the situation'.

What about the Moderna vaccine? "We bought 7.5 million doses," says Kronig. She cannot yet say when exactly these will be delivered. "But we expect that we will get the appropriate volume by the summer so that everyone who wants to be vaccinated will be vaccinated in the summer."

Kronig commented again on the number of vaccination doses. In addition to the 500,000 doses in January, a million vaccine doses should be added by the end of February. The situation is very dynamic. It is possible that even more vaccine doses will be available by the end of Feb.

BAG: 'The mutation can develop like a second pandemic in the current pandemic. The threat of the new mutation is immense. But it can be contained with the vaccination and protective measures. We hope that the situation will develop positively in three to four months.'

Journalist asks: "Does it make sense to extend the gastronomy curfew for a month?"
BAG: "We won't comment on Federal issues or decisions".