The Czech Republic wants the Danish Astra-Zeneca vaccine
After Denmark moved away from the Astra-Zeneca Corona vaccine, the Czech Republic expressed interest in the remaining doses. “We are ready to buy Astra-Zeneca from Denmark,” Interior Minister Jan Hamask said on Twitter. However, it was not clear if this trade was possible even under European Union rules.
And the politician stressed the attempts to obtain a vaccine all over the world. To this end, he will also travel to Moscow to negotiate the possibility of delivery of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.
Young men are looking to open up – especially a return to fitness
Many people are happy with this announcement of the facilities today. But above all young people. They especially suffered from closed restaurants and leisure facilities, which are always meeting places. With all these limitations, we are now taking a step back toward normality. The boys were well received, as the inspection of the banks of the Rhine in Basel confirms.
Belgium is dropping, too
Belgium wants to ease some coronavirus restrictions. Completely unnecessary entries and exits should be allowed from Monday, Prime Minister Alexander de Crowe said in Brussels on Wednesday. After a week, retail stores and hairdressers are allowed to open their doors again without appointments, and meetings with ten people instead of four are allowed in the open air. Restaurants and bars are allowed to reopen their outdoor areas on May 8th after a month-long break. The night curfew should give way to banning gatherings.
Basel Stadt issues ban on consumption in ‘hotspots’
In order to avoid the uncontrolled increase in the number of local infections in known “hotspots”, the Basel Diaspora government council passed a new clause in the Covid-19 cantonal law. Accordingly, the cantonal doctor can order special precautions in “hot spots”, for example the obligation to wear a locally restricted public mask and the ban on locally restricted consumption of the commons.
According to the announcement, these special safeguards are planned from Monday in response to the dilution in Steinfurstatt. Nothing should be consumed here at Allmend outside of the designated bar and restaurant areas. This regulation is initially limited to May 31, 2021.
“Economic and social needs were very likely.”
The Federal Council is relaxing despite the fragile situation: restaurant terraces are allowed to open from April 19. Sporting events, cinema, theater and concerts are again possible to a limited extent. From a political point of view, the Federal Council is taking a big step towards its critics. In making these decisions, he weighed heavily on economic and social needs, even if he did not meet the demands of the Senior Vice President and the trade union to open everything up, ”says Bundeshaus editor Curdin Vincenz.
Not many countries in the European Union are vaccinating with Johnson & Johnson at this time
The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and Italy will not use the vaccine from the US manufacturer Johnson & Johnson at this time. Firstly, more needs to be learned about possible blood clots, Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jong said Wednesday in The Hague. And the United States had previously stopped vaccination with the product after some cases of blood clots in the cerebral veins.
The manufacturer also recommended that European Union countries not use cans that have already been delivered. In the United States, there were six cases of cerebral thrombosis after vaccination, out of nearly seven million vaccines. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently screening cases.
Opening steps bring only limited economic relief
Business editor Roman Mesasalma SRF ratings: “Starting Monday, cinemas will be able to sell and occupy every third seat again – up to a maximum of fifty. It is true that occupancy in some cinemas was barely much higher before the pandemic. In economic terms, everything will soon be the same for the film industry The most popular season is drawing to a close.
More restrictive are the lenient requirements of a maximum of fifty guests paying for the theater and concert industry. While movie theaters often get very few staff for several halls at the same time, the income from fifty tickets will never cover the personnel costs for theatrical performances or concerts.
Among the hosts, only those with large outdoor spaces benefit – and only if the weather is tolerable. Relief for the food industry at large remains limited. At first glance, 1,200 fitness centers in Switzerland are likely to return to normal. However, because of the compensation days now due, there is hardly any new member money in the fund. “
SRF Science Editor: ‘There are bold steps’
Although the number of cases and patients in hospitals is increasing, the Federal Council decided to ease Corona’s measures. Starting April 19, restaurants will once again be able to serve guests on their balconies and events with the public will be allowed again. “These are bold steps,” says Daniel Theiss, science editor at SRF.
People with Covid-19 should now only be vaccinated once
In Switzerland, people with Covid 19 will be vaccinated with only one dose in the future. The federal government has adjusted its vaccine recommendation from Pfizer / Biontech and Moderna accordingly.
Excluded from the recommendation are people with immunodeficiency who should continue to receive two doses of the vaccine, the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) and the Federal Commission for Vaccination Issues (EKIF) announced Wednesday.
For people with confirmed Covid-19 disease, vaccination is now recommended only six months after infection. Here, too, people at particular risk, who should continue to be vaccinated after three months, are excluded.
Various reactions from Bern and Zurich
Restaurants with large terraces are pleased with the decisions of the Federal Council. “Yes, joy is great,” says Maria Harry, who runs the Berghaus on the Nissen River in the Bernese Oberland – 2,300 meters above sea level. You will start with a small card because you are very dependent on the weather. But it’s great to be able to entertain guests again.
Urs Rölli is also satisfied – he runs the Beach House at the Bad Murtensee Hotel in Muntelier (France). “We can now increase it from 30 percent to 100 percent,” he told SRF. Guests who consume on the balcony will spend more money. “You can then order two or three rounds of beer instead of just one.”
On the other hand, pioneers of Zurich’s gastronomy are disappointed: the opening of the stands corresponds to an absolute minimum, says Urs Pfäffli of Gastro Zurich. When the weather is bad, which often happens in spring, says Renato Pedroncelli, his colleague from Schaffhausen, restaurants don’t want to open terraces.
The media conference ended
Health Minister Alain Perset concluded the media conference. You can make the facilities and changes decided by the Federal Council today Read here. We thank you for your interest and we will keep you updated on srf.ch and in the live tape.
When will all measures be lifted?
In response to a question about lifting the measures, Percet said it is a moral question: “Before offering vaccination to everyone who wants, it is difficult to lift all measures.” But if all those who want to be vaccinated can vaccinate, then surely closures and strict measures are no longer appropriate. “The requirements for a mask and hand hygiene are likely to be necessary for a long time.” To be sure, not all actions will be canceled in one fell swoop, Percé explains.
Why does the Federal Council open internal activities?
A journalist notes that the infection mainly occurs indoors. Why is the Federal Council still opening indoor fitness centers and events? “Specifications are very restrictive and should be verified as well,” says Percé. This way, these openings can be made.
Cantons and communes decide whether to expand the terraces
Should restaurants now be allowed to extend their balconies, as the canton of Basel Stadt has already decided? The expansion or even dimensions of outdoor catering areas are the responsibility of the cantons (trade law) and the municipalities. Here, the federal government has no influence, says Michael Gerber, a legal expert at the bar.
The guiding values are not adhered to – however, they are comfortable. why?
Four of the five mitigation criteria are not met, but they will open anyway. why? “Since the beginning of the crisis, we have been trying to keep the impact on society as low as possible,” says Alain Percet. “After this long time, we were seeing facilitation possible.” With the benchmark values only slightly exceeded, the numbers haven’t exploded since March. “We came to the conclusion that it is defensible. We take risks, but it is acceptable for our community to provide it that way. “
Should the tensioning guides be modified?
The journalist addresses the indicative values for any tightening. “The standards are meant to be a guide,” says Percé. Whether the directive was fulfilled is just a snapshot. Because “everything is very dynamic.”
Is there a date for the next potential opening move?
There is no exact date for further steps, says Percé. “As before, we will monitor the situation constantly, and if possible and necessary, we will respond accordingly.”
Are there mask requirements for people who have been vaccinated?
When homes for the elderly are vaccinated, the requirement for a mask is no longer necessary. Could it be done the same way in other areas? “No, because there is a big difference: Older people live in these homes, so they have to wear masks in their homes all day. It’s hard. That’s why there are some inscriptions,” says Percé.
How will standards evolve?
Pearcett is asked how the federal benchmark values would evolve if the at-risk group was vaccinated. There are several points that remain to be considered. Even with higher vaccination coverage, there are points like Long-Covid, which should be taken into account, according to Berset.
Why did the number of cases not explode in Motier?
A journalist deals with the situation in Motier, where many people celebrated after the vote to change canton, sometimes without masks. One journalist notes that the number of cases did not explode there.
“We are analyzing the situation,” says Percet. “It will also show that there could be fewer injuries overseas.”
Another journalist touches on the issue and asks why more spectators are not allowed to attend football matches. “You have to put an end somewhere,” says Percé. You also don’t want to risk the next introductory steps.
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