Guy Parmelin, Swiss minister of economic affairs, told a press conference that the new package is designed for self-employed one-person ventures, including those in the cultural and sports sector, as well as people working on demand.
These people are currently not entitled to the first relief package of 20 billion CHF (20.6 billion U.S. dollars) presented two weeks ago by the Swiss government for loss of earnings during the COVID-19 crisis.
"The new package was indeed designed only for the professions directly" affected by the containment measures, said the minister.
With "already extremely stressed" relief funds, the Swiss official explained, the additional aid will focus on targeted solutions rather than general compensation in order to manage a crisis that will last for "several months".
As of Wednesday, Switzerland, with a population of 8.5 million, had reported 17,139 confirmed coronavirus cases and 378 deaths, making it one of the countries most affected by the coronavirus.
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