On 26 March 2020, Switzerland’s federal government announced the number of Covid-19 tests conducted so far in Switzerland.
South Korea, a nation often cited among those with high test rates, now trails Switzerland on the number per capita tests it has conducted.
By 26 March 2020, South Korea had conducted 364,942 tests, a rate of 7,090 test per million, while Switzerland had conducted 91,400 Covid-19 tests, a rate of 10,665 tests per million.
However, there are significant differences in how the two countries have approached testing. South Korea tested earlier, more preemptively and included significant numbers of suspected cases. In Switzerland, testing has been more reactive and focused on high risk highly symptomatic individuals. Many in Switzerland with symptoms remain untested. Many others in close contact with untested symptomatic people have not been tested either.
These differences in testing are reflected in the test results. South Korea has conducted 364,942 tests but only discovered 9,241 cases, 3% of those tested. On the other hand Switzerland’s 91,400 tests have discovered 10,714 cases, 14% of those tested.
This means South Korea’s 9,241 case number is likely to be far more complete than Switzerland’s figure, which is likely to be heavily understated and far from the actual number of people infected.
More on this:
Federal Government press release (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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Jan says
I seem to be having different conclusions from the data you quoted. If Switzerland mostly tests people that are more likely to have the virus, that means that, if anything, the Swiss results are OVERstated in comparison to tests performed on everybody (meaning a group consisting also from individuals less likely to be infected). Switzerland made more tests per capita – in that way the results are more complete than South Korea’s.
Le News says
While Switzerland has tested a greater percentage of its population, it restricted tests and locked down later and the virus has spread further. In South Korea, they locked down fast and didn’t restrict tests. This enabled them to dampen the spread. The number of tests is less important than testing and lock down policies and their timing.
Jon says
To Jan,
Just reflect: if in Switzerland they performed tests mostly on people that are more likely to have the virus, they are overlooking all the people who took the virus but are generally young and healthy, which could be a lot of people. Therefore, the figures Switzerland publishes are very much UNDERstated, compared to the reality.
In Korea, they performed tests also on those people, so the figures are more realistic.