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Swiss Health Minister accused of hiding crucial coronavirus information

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Swiss Health Minister accused of hiding crucial coronavirus information
Berset allegedly hid crucial information from his colleagues. Photo by AFP

Switzerland's Health Minister Alain Berset allegedly concealed an alarming report issued last August about the spread of Covid-19 in Switzerland.

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The report that the Health Minister, Alain Berset, allegedly hid from his colleagues, was a document from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), calling for the tightening of coronavirus measures to avoid a second wave.

FOPH issued a 12-page document on August 6th, urging the Federal Council to implement a slew of restrictions, Swiss media reports. Among the measures FOPH recommended was the obligatory wearing of masks and the closing of restaurants.

EXPLAINED: How Switzerland could end the coronavirus shutdown 

Berset was expected to forward this report to the Federal Council, which he allegedly didn’t do, even though FOPH experts stressed that the restrictions had to be implemented urgently.

Kept in the dark, the Federal Council announced the relaxation of certain measures, allowing, for instance, large gatherings from October 1st.

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Berset himself reportedly urged the Federal Council to loosen the restrictions "after realising that he would not have had a consensus for a longer ban," the media said.

University of Bern’s epidemiologist Christian Althaus said one of the main reasons for the second wave that hit Switzerland in September, was that federal authorities eased the measures in August instead of ordering stricter rules as recommended by FOPH.

“This allowed the virus to spread across the country. Contact tracing quickly reached its limits, which probably contributed to the rapid rise of the pandemic", he said.

Once the second wave of outbreaks struck, daily coronavirus cases recorded in Switzerland soared dramatically, almost tripling the highest number of infections registered during the peak of the pandemic in April. 

And soon intensive care units in Swiss hospitals became saturated with Covid patients.

Berset has not yet responded to the allegations.

READ MORE: Swiss coronavirus situation 'deteriorating': Health Minister Berset 

 

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Anonymous 2021/02/17 11:42
Wonder who put the money in his pocket to lose the report....
Anonymous 2021/02/16 17:59
It’s inexcusable that an”authority” can go unchecked and be so irresponsible, especially at a time of pandemic. Ok <br /><br />It was clear to the rest of the world that CH was only doing things halfway and at the speed of molasses. <br /><br />It was clear to the rest of the world that this could only be disastrous . Look how ridiculous they are about what they deem to be essential: Hair salons? Nail salons? Taylor salons????!!!<br /><br />It’s a joke. <br /><br />Why , pray tell, was it not clear to him and how can he get away with not divulging such essential, life and death information? <br /><br />Shameful. Truly. <br /><br />He should step down.
Anonymous 2021/02/16 17:13
This explains a lot about the rules in the autumn. I always thought Berset was clueless, but now I realize he is dishonest as well.
Anonymous 2021/02/15 21:23
I always felt that the government was never serious about controlling the situation.

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