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Mr Koch, you see that people are wearing face masks again on public transport. Should we all wear face masks again?
Daniel Koch: In my opinion there is no reason for that. The numbers are not so alarming that we need a mask requirement.
Will we get through the winter okay?
I am retired (laughs) and can only speak as a private individual. If I look closely at the situation, it looks good. Corona cases are rising, but that has nothing to do with the extreme situation of 2020.
The number of respiratory diseases is rising sharply in China.
At the moment I don’t see anything that we should worry about in Switzerland. The worst is behind us.
What was the biggest mistake you made as “Mister Corona”?
From today’s perspective, the ban on visits to hospitals and nursing homes was a mistake. I feel guilty when I think about old people being left to die alone and their relatives unable to say goodbye. You can’t make up for that anymore.
During the Corona pandemic you sometimes had 19-hour days. Are you bored as a retiree?
Not at all. I work as a consultant and also have a lot to do privately because I have a new partner from Ukraine. I support Natalia and her son wherever I can.
How did you meet your wife?
I lived alone and had space. After Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine, I volunteered to take in refugees. Natalia’s ex-husband and their son came to me. Later I met Natalia and this summer we got married.
Why didn’t you bring your wife to the interview?
We want to keep the identity of her family confidential. Natalia comes from the northeast of Ukraine, from a place near the Russian border. Here the Ukrainians also speak Russian and are therefore the biggest losers of the war. They are attacked by the Russians and at the same time have to prove to Kiev that they are loyal Ukrainians. All this is a huge burden.
The Ukrainian national emblem, the trident, is on your jersey. Are you a Ukrainian patriot?
I bought the sweater in Ukraine. The trident represents the soaring flight of a falcon. I like the motive – and of course I try to support Ukraine. That’s how I got involved with the Daar-voor-jou.ch foundation.
During the Corona period you worked closely with federal councilor Alain Berset. Did you complain to him when he made his “war madness” statements?
No. But I recently texted him and thanked him for his trip to Kiev.
German virologist Hendrik Streeck wants to run for the Bundestag in 2025. Why not switch to politics?
I have no ambitions here.
Are you afraid that support for Ukraine is declining?
Yes. I am outraged that Roger Köppel, who understands Putin, has invited the Hungarian autocrat Viktor Orban to Zurich and that old federal councilors such as Christoph Blocher and Ueli Maurer remain in office. How can you woo such an anti-democrat? That’s downright un-Swiss!
How could Switzerland become more committed to Ukraine?
Switzerland is proud to stand up for international law. But when it came to caring for wounded Ukrainian soldiers, they suddenly said: wait a minute, we only want civilians. Are you crazy? According to international law, wounded soldiers are also entitled to medical assistance.
What else could Switzerland do?
We need to rethink our understanding of neutrality. Switzerland prevents NATO countries from supporting Ukraine with weapons. At the same time, Switzerland has no problem making money from Putin’s dirty oil deals.
Doctor Daniel Koch (68) worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross for a long time. From 2008 to 2020, he headed the Communicable Diseases department of the Federal Office of Public Health and became nationally known as Mister Corona. Since 2023, he has been married to the Ukrainian Natalia (40), who has a son (15). Daniel Koch has two adult daughters from a previous marriage.
Doctor Daniel Koch (68) worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross for a long time. From 2008 to 2020, he headed the Communicable Diseases department of the Federal Office of Public Health and became nationally known as Mister Corona. Since 2023, he has been married to the Ukrainian Natalia (40), who has a son (15). Daniel Koch has two adult daughters from a previous marriage.
Militarily, there will be no quick fix. How could a ceasefire still be achieved?
There is no peace without compromise. Zelensky could offer Putin the following: Russia immediately withdraws from the conquered territories. In return, in five years, a referendum will take place under international supervision on whether people prefer to belong to Russia or Ukraine.
Organizations such as Alliance Sud fear that their commitment to Ukraine will leave less money for development cooperation.
The concern is justified. Parliament wants to save money, but it is disastrous if this is at the expense of the poorest people.
Your appeal to the saver Karin Keller-Sutter?
Mrs Keller-Sutter does what Parliament tells her to do. I therefore address myself to all parliamentarians. I warn against giving in to right-wing populist tendencies and hope that parliamentarians will show courage. Development cooperation is always a long-term investment in the future. There is no quick return here. As one of the richest countries in the world, Switzerland should be a role model when it comes to development cooperation – not a penny pincher.
Why is Parliament more generous towards Ukraine than towards Africa?
Ukraine is culturally and geographically closer to us. But it is precisely the right-wing populists in the Bundestag who want less migration who should campaign for more money in development cooperation. Because stable local conditions ensure that people do not even make the trip to Europe.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
