The German Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (59) is certainly not comfortable in the Federal Council at the moment. Unlike all surrounding EU countries, Switzerland is currently waiving a corona test requirement for travelers from China. “The Federal Minister of Health continues to support a coordinated European approach,” his ministry remains diplomatic when asked.
Germany is very concerned about the corona situation in China. Because many infections would also mean many opportunities for the virus to mutate. “Moreover, we lack the data from China to be able to estimate whether new mutations will arise,” explains a spokeswoman for the ministry. It is therefore right to expand supervision and demand testing. “If there is a new virus variant, we want to be able to recognize it early.”
Sharp criticism from SVP and center
The criticism of the decision of the Bundesrat in Switzerland itself is becoming increasingly clear. The SVP and the center party have no understanding of it at all. The FDP, on the other hand, supports the government’s decision. At the request of the SVP, the Health Committee of the National Council will deal with it on Thursday. In it, the Federal Council is asked to subject travelers from China to a mandatory test
SVP party leader Thomas Aeschi (43) regrets the government decision. Many countries assessed the epidemiological situation differently, such as the US, Germany, France, Italy, Spain or Japan. They expected mutations of the virus and a possible increase in corona infections.
“Mutations in Switzerland can be prevented with mandatory testing”
In his view, it is better for Switzerland to act now than to impose domestic restrictions again later. Unfortunately, things have often turned out differently than expected in the past. Mandatory testing for people from China could prevent this mutation from being brought to Switzerland.
The waiving of a mandatory test is also “difficult to understand” for the center party. Given the rapid and unknown development, precautions are now necessary, she wrote on the short message service Twitter. Both the EU and the United Nations Health Organization (WHO) have recommended mandatory testing for travelers from China. This is also necessary for Switzerland.
FDP supports the decision of the Federal Council
Andri Silberschmidt (28), national councilor of the Zurich FDP, sees the situation very differently: he supported the decision of the Bundesrat on behalf of the party. Because he trusts the government to make its decisions based on risk and epidemiological indicators, says Silberschmidt.
He also thinks it would be wrong if a militia parliament were to issue entry restrictions for certain countries. All the more so because the demand comes from a party that has repeatedly spoken out against the Covid law. Initially there were no reactions from the SP and the Greens. (SDA)