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HEALTH-VIRUS-SWITZERLAND
Don’t give in to fear, Swiss told as virus cases almost double
GENEVA, March 15, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Swiss officials urged people not to be
afraid as cases of COVID-19 almost doubled on Sunday and drastic measures to
halt the spread of the virus took hold.
“We must not give in to fear,” Health Minister Alain Berset told NZZ am
Sonntag newspaper, calling on people to stay calm and pull together.
Infections jumped on Sunday by nearly 1,000 in 24 hours to 2,200 and 14
deaths were recorded from the virus across the country.
On Friday, the government closed schools and banned large public
gatherings and the army said it was preparing to help overstretched
hospitals.
The country also reintroduced tight border controls with neighbouring
countries in the bloc and slapped strict limits on who can cross over from
hard-hit Italy, where more than 1,400 people have died in the pandemic.
The southern Ticino region, which borders Italy, went further and ordered
the closure of all restaurants, bars and shops, with the exception of food
stores and pharmacies.
After the nationwide measures were announced, the wealthy Alpine nation
saw shelves in some supermarkets stripped bare as people anticipated tighter
restrictions and shortages.
President Simonetta Sommaruga told Le Matin Dimanche newspaper Switzerland
was well-placed to handle the outbreak.
“We are in a position to overcome this crisis, on the medical and the
financial level,” she insisted, pointing out that “Switzerland is a rich
country. We won’t leave anyone behind.”
The government announced Friday that it would make $10.5 billion available
immediately to help companies and employees to make it through the crisis.
Thomas Kluhr, head of national airline Swiss, said no airline would
survive the crisis without government support.
He told SonntagsBlick weekly Swiss and its parent company Lufthansa were
likely to survive for longer than other airlines, adding: “But how long is
unclear in this constantly changing situation.”
BSS/AFP/RY/1959 hrs