The commitment of the army, civil protection and civilians during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is not beyond reproach.
The Federal Finance Control (CDF) has looked into this commitment. Case studies have been carried out in several cantons. Conclusion: Coordination at the federal level was insufficient during the first wave of the pandemic, notes the CDF in a report published on Wednesday.
As far as the CP is concerned, it is the cantons that have taken the operational commitment decisions. The army and the civil service, on the other hand, depend directly on the Confederation. As a result, the decision-making processes in response to requests from civil authorities were not clearly defined enough.
Misunderstandings
This situation did not have serious consequences, since the number of people on duty was sufficient. The CDF does not understand, however, that the problem has not been solved before. He had been identified during the National Security Network exercise in 2014.
Another problem in the eyes of the CDF is that there was not from the outset a common understanding of the principle of subsidiarity, according to which people on duty should only be hired if there are no other means available. on the spot. In this context, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Population, on which civil protection depends, did not ensure effective control.
Delegate to private
As the pandemic dragged on, the CP took on additional, long-term plannable tasks, for example to support vaccination in the cantons. These activities might also have been carried out by private actors, believes the CDF.
During the second wave, coordination between the army and the civil service and the examination of applications improved. And the CDF notes with satisfaction that the commitment of the army was then deliberately and significantly reduced.
