Quarantine and isolation reduced from Thursday to five days and the validity of the covid certificate limited to 9 months.These are the new measures proposed today, Wednesday, by the Federal Council in the fight against coronavirus.At the same time, the provisions adopted on 17 December - in particular "2G", teleworking and limits on private meetings - must be extended to the end of March.This point goes into consultation.Meanwhile, there are 1,548 new coronavirus infections in Ticino, where there are also three new deaths and a decline in hospital patients, now 168. The canton of Graubünden has instead reported 1,214 new infections in 24 hours, a figure that equals that of last Friday and is second only to that of January 6.There are no deaths, while in hospitals the situation is stable: 32 patients (+1) are hospitalized, of which 8 in intensive care.At the national level, the infections announced by the FOPH are 32,881Stefano Pongan, Alex Ricordi, Dario Lanfranconi, Elena Boromeo and Diego MolesSeveral Ticino sports clubs have decided to introduce the obligation of a mask for children.The measure that, up to the age of 16 is not provided for by the provisions of the Confederation, was adopted to align itself with what happens in the school world where from Monday it must also be taken to gymnastics starting from the first grade or in response to an indication of the owner municipalities of the gyms.In the newspaper report the testimony of some very young basketball players of SAM Massagno who carried out the first minibasket training with their faces covered and the explanations of the managers of the Lugano hockey school which does not include a mask.None of the major carnivals will be held next February in Italian-speaking Switzerland.On Wednesday evening, after the Lingera, the Nebiopoli committee also announced that the 2022 edition of the celebrations will not take place.To save the carnival and the groups that animate it, Chiasso invites Bellinzona, Roveredo, Biasca, Tesserete and Locarno to discuss the possibility of moving the revelry to another time of the year.A light edition will be held in the central square from 25 to 27 February.Something more traditional, simple and "unpretentious".The organizers of the Nebiopoli di Chiasso and Lingera di Roveredo also threw in the towelPeople who tested positive for Covid will be able to come out of isolation after 5 days without taking a test: this measure desired by the Federal Council worries some experts, including Dr. Andreas Cerny, specialist in infectious diseases, according to whom it is a "risky choice. ”Which could lead to further spread of the virus among the population.Interview with the new president of the Confederation, Ignazio Cassis, on the management of the pandemic which, in relation to the reduction of the duration of isolation and quarantines, speaks to CSR of calculated risk.The committee of the Lingera Society, which so far had tried to save the 2022 edition of the Roveredo carnival, has in turn decided to throw in the towel: given the persistence of the pandemic situation, it has definitively canceled the revels that were scheduled from 16 to 20 February.However, according to a statement issued on Wednesday evening, it is considering the possibility of organizing an outdoor event to celebrate the company's 60th anniversary this year.Further details will be announced in the coming weeks.Rising house prices: behind the increase in demand there are also the new needs that emerged during the confinements - The analysis of the psychologist Sacchi"Even though Omicron causes less serious disease than Delta, it remains a dangerous virus, particularly for those who are not vaccinated."This was underlined by the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in the briefing on the pandemic in Geneva.Recalling that "the huge spike in infections" in the world "is led by Omicron, which is rapidly replacing Delta in almost all countries".And "last week, more than 15 million new Covid cases were reported worldwide, by far the largest number of cases reported in a single week."For a few days the preparation has been accessible for the age group between 5 and 11 years - the opinion of pediatriciansFor a few days the preparation has been accessible for the age group between 5 and 11 years - The opinion of pediatriciansFDP, Liberal Greens and the Alliance of the Center welcome the reduction of the duration of isolation and quarantine to five days decided today by the Federal Council.On the other hand, the reaction of the Greens was very hard: their president Balthasar Glättli accused the government of resigning itself to accepting victims on the way to the endemic phase.Via twitter Glättli talked about a high-risk strategy in terms of deaths, illnesses with long-term consequences and an overload on infrastructure and healthcare personnel.The Swiss Union of Arts and Crafts (USAM) is opposed to the extension until the end of March of the teleworking obligation, initially set until next January 24, sent today for consultation by the Federal Council.The government's decision to reduce the period of isolation and quarantine to five days is instead welcomed.According to the association that defends the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises, the obligation to work at home is inapplicable in many sectors.Those who can introduce it have already done so when teleworking was just a recommendation, USAM said in a statement.The reduction of isolation and quarantine, in force starting from tomorrow, is instead judged positively by the association: however, the USAM wonders why the quarantine is only shortened and not simply removed.In their opinion, "everything possible must be done so that the economy can work as freely as possible and thus recover from the consequences of the pandemic".After the shortening of the quarantine to five days for those who have come into contact with a coronavirus positive person, the Swiss Union of Entrepreneurs (USI) is calling for further relaxation.Symptom-free people should no longer be fully quarantined.Today's Federal Council decision on quarantine and isolation is welcomed, said USI President Valentin Vogt to the Keystone-ATS agency.Due to the high number of infections, it is still necessary to take into account the existence of a large number of uncensored cases - he added - therefore it would be sensible to discuss the abolition of the quarantine for people without symptoms.As regards the obligation to work from home - today the government has put in consultation an extension until the end of March - the association was of the opinion that the measure was useless already when it was reintroduced, Vogt stressed. .Wherever possible, it is already implemented voluntarily by companies.The cantons support the reduction of the quarantine and isolation period, both set at five days, announced today by the Federal Council.Although there was no consultation, many cantonal representatives were in favor of such an adjustment.The shorter incubation period and the high contagiousness of the Omicron variant have made the Executive's decision "understandable", the Conference of Cantonal Directors of Health (CDS) indicated today in a press release.Regarding quarantines and isolations, the cantons now have until Monday to consider possible exceptions.For the other topics sent for consultation, the CDS mentions in particular the test strategy and the extension of the current measures beyond 24 January.The leaders of the Conference say they are in favor of such extensions.The British Prime Minister: "I take responsibility, but no party" - Labor asked for his resignation: "he lied to the House and the people"The British Prime Minister: "I take responsibility, but no party" - Labor asked for his resignation: "he lied to the House and the people"EOC Deputy Head of Medicine Mattia Lepori is very critical of the Federal Council's decision.On the one hand, it is said that the situation is critical, he says, but on the other, no action is takenMattia Lepori, Deputy Head of the EOC Medical Area, criticizes the Federal Council - "The spread of the virus cleared"“In our opinion it is correct and right.Above all, the reduction of insulation: this is what we requested from the Federal Council ”.This is how Graubünden state councilor Marcus Caduff commented on CSR on the latest decisions taken by the government in the fight against the pandemic.Regarding the hypothesis of a total abolition of the quarantine, Caduff added that for the Rhaetian Executive "it is something that it can examine", provided however that "people who have had contact with positive people wear masks everywhere and consistently, keep a safe distance ”and so on.Currently, the cantonal minister stressed, there are 10,000 people in the Grisons undergoing isolation or quarantine and "many companies are closed because the staff, the workers are lacking".The president of the Ticino government Manuele Bertoli commented on the decisions of Bern stating that "the decisions take into account two conflicting elements: on the one hand, the prudence in keeping separate those who become infected or who have contacts, on the other the need not to stop everything .It is therefore difficult to establish the right limit, it is always an arbitrary decision ".On the greater burdens for the cantons and for the hospital systems, Bertoli explained that “we will only know later, when we can look back.Many very gloomy forecasts in the past have not come true and, even if we must not ignore them, but at the same time we cannot exaggerate by taking too prudent measures, otherwise they would not be understood ”.Finally on the situation in schools: "I have no data that indicate anomalous or particularly difficult situations, but school resumed only on Monday and we must continue to monitor the situation".Duration reduced immediately by the Federal Council.In consultation, the extension of the measures until March 31 and the validity of Covid certificates limited to 9 monthsDuration reduced immediately by the Federal Council.In consultation, the extension of the measures until March 31 and the validity of Covid certificates limited to 9 monthsWould new measures be useless in the current situation or is it too late to take them?This is the question addressed to Ignazio Cassis, according to whom "since the goal is to have sufficient hospital capacity" and that this is currently guaranteed, "new restrictions on freedom would not be proportional".“We are in the middle of a fifth wave, with a very contagious variant.The Federal Council believes that sooner or later we will all come into contact with the virus ”, underlines Alain Berset, underlining how vaccination remains fundamental at this point in order to avoid a serious course.What will happen with Omicron "we will see in the coming weeks", whether or not it leads us out of the pandemic to an endemic situation.The Federal Council has decided to put in consultation a shortening of the duration of the Covid certificate from 365 to 270 days, or from one year to nine months.This ensures that the vaccination certificate continues to be recognized by the EU.The measure, also sent for consultation, would enter into force on 1 February.Alain Berset illustrates the challenges to be faced, not least those for hospitals, which are confronted with patients hospitalized for other reasons but who test positive and therefore must be isolated and treated (with great effort) in the same way as Covid patientsAlthough ICU hospitalizations have dropped slightly in recent days, the pandemic situation is still considered critical.However, as Ignazio Cassis announces, the Government has decided not to take new measures.However, an extension of the measures adopted in mid-December and expiring on 24 January is being consulted until Monday.These provide for the "2G" regime, the obligation to wear a mask in closed spaces, except for consuming in bars and restaurants (but only while seated).If this is not possible (for example for choirs or discos) the so-called "2G +" is required.Telework remains mandatory and private meetings with unvaccinated or unhealed remain limited to 10 people.From tomorrow, Thursday, the isolation for those who are positive for the coronavirus will be reduced from 10 to 5 days provided they have not had symptoms for at least 2 days.The quarantine - for those who have been in contact with a positive - is also reduced to five days.Quarantine will also be limited to people who live in the same household as the infected person, or who have had regular and close contact with those who tested positive.On the other hand, people who have received the last dose of the vaccine or have recovered for less than four months are exempt.Again - as with isolations - the cantons can also grant exceptions.With the Omicron variant, the time interval between infection and transmission of the virus has been reduced, and this is the scientific explanation for the measure.Then there is the economic one: more and more personnel are lacking in services and businesses.The Federal Council press conference has started.Also present together with Alain Berset was Ignazio Cassis, who for the first time directed the session as president of the Confederation32,881 new cases of Covid-19 have been registered in Switzerland in the last 24 hours, according to figures released by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).Last Wednesday there were 32,239 infections.36 other deaths were reported and 249 people were hospitalized.Since the start of the pandemic, 1'604'278 cases have been confirmed in the laboratory out of a total of 15'627'851 tests.Overall there are 12,085 deaths and the number of people in hospital stands at 40,871.The Omicron variant accounts for 76.7% of cases, the Delta 23.3%.On 05.01 in Switzerland 118,508 people were forced home between isolation and quarantine.A week later (today's figure) there are 218'589: in 7 days the increase was 85% (+ 100'081).The Federal Council will announce the measures taken today at 1.45 pm at a press conference in Bern.Live on RSI La2 and streaming on Facebook RSINews and on RSI.ch starting at 1.35pmThe Austrian authorities recorded a new record of daily infections, 17,000.The figure is almost double that of last week.The hospital situation, however, remains stable:The bebtelovimab monoclonal antibody, developed by AbCellera and Eli Lilly, effectively neutralizes the Omicron variant and other variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.This is what emerges from a study published in pre-print on bioRxiv and published online on the website of the Reuters news agency.Lilly said that "she is working with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, the US federal agency for drug safety) to make bebtelovimab available with an emergency use authorization".Bebtelovimab, currently in a phase 2 clinical trial, acts against a part of the virus that is not affected by those mutations that have reduced the effectiveness of the vaccine.In laboratory tests its effectiveness has been verified against the main variants that have emerged to date (among others, Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron), confirming its ability to neutralize all versions of the virus.With a long post, the Serbian tennis player wanted to clarify the incriminated episodesWith a long post, the Serbian tennis player wanted to clarify the incriminated episodesThe UN organization believes that the coronavirus is not yet a disease with which it will have to coexist, but remember that "it is not a flu"The UN organization believes that the coronavirus is not yet a disease with which it will have to coexist, but remembers that "it is not a flu"Thanks to the obligation to wear a mask, it has become even easier for young people who are not yet of the age to buy them to obtain alcohol and tobacco.The tests carried out in 2021 by the Zurich municipal police proved this.The 14-17 year olds used for the experiments were successful in almost one out of two cases, a marked increase compared to similar controls carried out in the years before the pandemic.The recommendation to shop employees is therefore very clear: in case of the slightest doubt, the buyer should be asked to show a document.Despite the coronavirus crisis, business failures grew only slightly in Switzerland in 2021 and even dropped in Ticino: data published Wednesday by economic information firm Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), which sees anti-Covid state aid, indicate this. also support for businesses that are no longer competitive.The companies that had to close due to insolvency were 3946 at the Swiss level, 4% more than in 2020. Ticino, however, moves against the trend, recording -17% (to 269), while the Grisons (+ 17% in 49) show a stronger progression than the national average.The coronavirus is not yet endemic, according to World Health Organization epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove, who contradicts the hypothesis that the new Omicron variant is mild.Less dangerous than Delta, but "it is not an influence" with which one can simply coexist, according to the expert, whose thesis is therefore also opposed to the political proposals put forward by the governments of Spain and the United Kingdom.Numbers in hand Van Kerkhove recalls that infections increased by 60% in the world last week and deaths by 3%.Three other people have died of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours in Ticino, bringing the toll of the pandemic to 1,070 deaths.The cantonal doctor's office registered 1,548 new infections.It was 1'549 yesterday, while a week ago the absolute record of 2'021 was reached.The number of patients in hospital dropped from 178 to 168, while the number of people in intensive care dropped from 16 to 14.In elderly homes, ADICASI reports 12 infections, for a total of 62 active cases divided into 14 of the 68 structures in the canton.Three residents recovered from the disease, none died.Almost all positives are vaccinated, all are asymptomatic or suffer from mild symptoms.The Government of Graubünden has decided that all persons domiciled in the canton who have a nursing diploma, but who do not currently carry out the profession they have learned, are required to register and register without delay.This is because it is expected that the strong wave of infections in progress can bring the health system to its limits.An online form has been activated for this purpose.The professions in question are:Québec, a Canadian province heavily hit by the Omicron wave, has decided to tax those who refuse the vaccine.“We are working on a health contribution for all adults who refuse to be vaccinated because they represent a financial burden for the community,” explained Prime Minister François Legault.The politician is convinced that 10% of the unvaccinated population should not "harm" the remaining 90%."I understand and I also feel this discontent with the unvaccinated minority that clogs up our hospitals," he added, explaining that half of the intensive care is taken by these people.Meanwhile, there is expectation for the decisions that the Federal Council will take in its first session in the presence of this 2022, with Ignazio Cassis as president to direct the work.Among the options considered most likely is a reduction in the duration of the quarantine, which could go up to 5 days.A press conference is expected in the afternoon, will be broadcast live on RSI La2 and streamed on Facebook RSINews and rsi.chThe infections in the canton of Grisons are rising again, such as Ticino among the most affected in this phase by the wave of infections caused by the Omicron variant.On Wednesday, 1,214 were announced in 24 hours, as it equals that of last Friday and is second only to that of January 6.The number of people in isolation thus increases to 8'551, while those in quarantine are 1'602.There were no deaths.In hospitals, the situation is stable, with a total of 32 patients (+1), of which 8 are in intensive care.Of these, 7 (-1) are subjected to artificial respiration.The Maloja region, with 218 new cases per 18,000 inhabitants, is the most affected.One in 12 is currently positive.RSI Italian-speaking Swiss Radio and Television, branch of the Swiss Radio and Television Society