The health authorities in Switzerland have decided to limit coronavirus tests to those over 65 or those with existing health problems that pose a higher risk of a deadly outcome. The list of existing health problems includes hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, a weakened immune system or cancer.
In practice, this is likely to mean the majority of the population will go untested. Going forward, the number of cases of coronavirus infection in Switzerland is likely to substantially exceed the number of cases recorded.
To avoid overloading the the health system, those with coronavirus symptoms who don’t qualify for testing are required to self isolate. If their symptoms get worse or result in serious breathing difficulty they should call their doctor or health service.
If you live with other people you should confine yourself to a single room, close the door and eat all of your meals in that room, according to the health authorities.
The self-isolation obligation ends 24 hours after the symptoms end, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
The newspapers Tribune de Genève and 24 Heures both refer to a directive issued by FOPH on the new testing policy.
The canton of Vaud has created a coronavirus check site that evaluates whether an individual is eligible for a test or not. Those who qualify will be emailed instructions on how to get tested.
The directive leaves doctors with discretion. They can decide to test someone who does not fit the criteria in the testing policy.
More on this:
Self isolation instructions (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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Alex says
This decision was made about a week after the government announced that health insurance should partially pay for all tests. I suspect this is the work of health insurance lobbyists
Jose I Lopezmalo says
The Coronavirus test check is useless… you won’t be recommended to test if you’re not in a very critical state… in other words: wait until you’re close to death to be tested!!!
How can we as a country know and prevent its expansion?
How can we trace the spread?
How can we ensure society acts calmly with this huge ignorance about the reality????
There is the example of Singapore, with an educated population as Switzerland, but where authorities openly and clearly explain about the status, the measures, and the next steps. That way the authorities build trust on population, get people’s collaboration, and as a result they contain moch more effectively the spread as Singapore is now demonstrating.
There is people working under the same roof with a person who was confirmed positive and who now have flu-like symptoms… those ones should be interviewed and tested ASAP, and not when they already spread the virus to others and got very very sick as this test check suggests.
V says
The self-isolation obligation ends 24 hours after the symptoms end, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
But a study mentions Coronavirus can survive 5 weeks in body after infection:
https://nypost.com/2020/03/12/coronavirus-can-survive-5-weeks-in-body-after-infection-study/
Jane says
Are you kidding me? They should be testing all with symptoms and closing their borders!!! It seems that the economy is more important to human like here 🤔
Eve says
True. In Switzerland Suisse public health authorities and the cantonal doctors have totally failed prevention by closing the eyes and rely only on stupidities like don’ t shake hands. How this is applying to schools ?
They are supposed to take real measures like closing borders from the beginning, self isolation to kids coming from Italy the latest since 24/02 . Etc
Really insufficient .
No name says
This is absurd I’m really tired of this country. They just don’t wanna increase the number anymore because this country is only relying on tourism. They don’t care about their own people. This is so Swiss.
Augusta says
Is this on the advice of …. WHOM???
Be-alert says
Dear Swiss people, will you accept this? Is this serious? Don’t you know that all nations will treat you as if anyone from switzerland is ill just because the government wants to save kirs and money? Look at the video inside a hospital in lombardy i do not see any old people intubated and unconscious there! I see only young people!
This is totally irresponsible!
Mathieu Leboeuf says
Totally irresponsible and frightening.
Very concerned says
Fully agree. Completely outrageous.
Nina says
Does this decision mean that those who have symptoms are automatically confirmed – similar to the approach in China?
Le News says
It isn’t clear how they’ll count cases. At the moment they only confirm them after a second round of lab testing in Geneva. Jumping to recording untested people feels unlikely.
Eve says
No in Switzerland only those tested for Coronavirus and are confirmed wil appear to those numbers of cases. But they cut off testing any ways and not even half is tested. So real numbers are much higher