The President of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis has tested positive for Covid-19 and has gone into isolation, the government announced on Thursday, the same day that Switzerland lifted most of its health restrictions.
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"
Ignazio Cassis has no symptoms and is in good health
," the statement said.
Ignazio Cassis, who holds the presidency of the confederation for one year, while keeping his functions as Federal Councilor in charge of Foreign Affairs of the Alpine country, took a PCR test on Wednesday evening, which turned out to be positive.
The 60-year-old former cantonal doctor “ will
continue his work from his home until Sunday
” and will not participate in any demonstration.
He must therefore cancel his participation in the prestigious Munich Security Conference, which is being held on Friday and Saturday, specifies the Federal Council.
The “
Wehrkunde ”
takes on particular significance this year as Europe faces a serious diplomatic and security crisis, due to the risk of an attack on Ukraine by Russia.
Read alsoSwitzerland lifts most measures to fight Covid-19
Switzerland on Thursday lifted virtually all the restrictions still in place to stem the spread, except for the wearing of masks in public transport and health establishments.
Ignazio Cassis did not believe so well to say Wednesday, during the press conference announcing the measures, when he declared: “
we must not be afraid of a return to normal but we must not be too enthusiastic either
”.
We must “
learn to live with the virus
”, Ignazio Cassis insisted again, also stressing that “
we find more freedom, but who says freedom, says responsibility
".
The health situation is improving in the country even if the number of contaminations remains high.
Covid-19 has killed just over 12,500 people in Switzerland over the past two years.
