Swiss Coronavirus Deaths Reach 235

Switzerland's death toll from the new coronavirus has risen from 197 on Friday to 235 people, the health ministry said on Saturday, with the number of cases also increasing from 12,161 to 13,213.

The 8.6 million-strong Alpine country is sending hospital army medical units to help in disaster regions like Ticino, neighboring hard-hit Italy, and has started to exploit its vital prescription reserve to satisfy growing demand.

Like other European countries, Switzerland is pumping money into its crisis-hit economy, and state-backed loans worth 20 billion Swiss francs ($21 billion) became available on Thursday.

On Saturday, Finance Minister Ueli Maurer made it plain that the government was willing to assist with loans, but that it wanted the capital back and could not cover for reductions in revenue.

"We are not distributing federal money, but taxpayers' money," Maurer told SRF radio.

"Many of those who pay taxes are now partially unemployed, their jobs are in question, and now we take the money away from them and distribute it somewhere where there are also problems."

The government is due to give an update later on Saturday on the epidemic situation.

Source: Reuters