Top Federal Expert gives warning about lockdown measures

It’s possible that we may have to continue living with the measures to contain the coronavirus for some time, says Matthias Egger, head of the Federal Covid-19 Task Force, says. He also concedes that scientists wanted stricter rules before lifting the lockdown.

"It is possible that we will have to live like this for another two years or more,"  says Matthias Egger in an interview with the "NZZ am Sonntag" By this he means social distance, masks, hygiene – everything that is necessary to slow down the spread of the virus.

"We don’t know too much about this virus. We may yet discover further unpleasant properties that could complicate and slow down the development of effective and safe vaccines," says the Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Bern. Egger hopes that, as a result of studies, large-scale vaccination can be carried out in a year's time.

Matthias Egger is head of the Federal Covid-19 Task Force.

Egger also admits that scientists proposed measures that the Federal Council did not include in the protection concept. For example, the task force only wanted a gradual opening of schools, with a maximum of 15 students per class and staggered breaks.

"Everyone has to participate"
It’s quite clear, however, that economic interests are also playing a role in these decisions. In addition, the federal expert believes that the social consequences of the lockdown must also be taken into account in the decisions, not just the protection of health.

The Federal Council is not proposing a high-risk strategy, Egger reassures. If the Swiss population adheres to the rules and protection concepts, it can be expected that the reproduction level will remain below one. "But everyone has to participate. Otherwise, a second wave is very possible," says the physician.