"We will not get through this crisis without any economic damage. However, the Federal Council is making every effort to keep the damage as small as possible," federal councillor Guy Parmelin told the media on Wednesday. 

On 1 April 2020, the Federal Council confirmed its previous strategy and decided to quickly examine a targeted extension or expansion of support services. The continuation and targeted optimisation of the existing strategy is intended to maintain employment, safeguard wages, support the self-employed and prevent insolvencies due to liquidity bottlenecks.

The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (FDEA) will, together with the Federal Department of Finance (FDF), also examine complementary instruments to protect sustainable start-ups from insolvency caused by the corona pandemic. Furthermore, the Federal Department of Home Affairs, together with the FDF and the FDEA, will be mandated to examine support for the purpose of cushioning hardship cases for self-employed persons who are confronted with a loss of income due to the widespread stagnation of the economy, although their employment is not prohibited.

In these circles, people have so far not been entitled to corona employment compensation. Other contracts concern travel agencies, the cultural and the sports sectors. In addition, the medium and long-term economic effects are to be analysed and a strategy for the period after the relaxation of health policy measures is to be drawn up.

In contrast, the Federal Council does not consider it feasible to cover all the compensation demanded across the board by means of so-called a-fonds-perdu contributions, ie payments that will not have to be paid back. The financial risks of comprehensive compensation without proof of damage would be enormous for the public sector and would jeopardise the sustainability of public finances.

Cushioning economic consequences in the agricultural sector

With CHF 3m, the Confederation wants to help meat producers to store the more expensive meat they cannot sell because of restaurant closures. For butter and eggs, the Federal Council is facilitating imports.

Measures continue to be strictly adhered to

The number of Covid-19 infections detected in Switzerland continues to rise, although at a lower rate. Until yesterday, Thursday, a good 18,000 people were registered as infected in Switzerland. Almost 500 people have died of Covid-19 so far. Although hospitals are not currently overcrowded and many beds are free, the FOPH and the Regional Crisis Management Group are urging the population to continue to strictly follow measures of hygiene and social distancing – despite fine weather and the approaching Easter holidays. The further implore the population not to travel to the Ticino, a very popular holiday place over Easter, in order not to place an additional burden on the health facilities there. This year, the Easter traffic jam on the Gotthard must be avoided, health minister Alain Berset recently stressed.

Based on AvS/Anita Moser