This week, 20,308 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, up 45% from the 13,983 recorded the week before. On a 7-day moving average basis, the number of daily new cases was 2,901.
Once the numbers catch up hospitalisations are likely to be higher this week than the week before. Last week 228 people entered hospital with Covid-19. So far this week, 204 have been recorded. However, this number is likely to rise between 30% and 50% once the data comes in. Last week’s figure rose from 165 to 228 (+38%). A rough estimate would put this week’s Covid-19 hospitalisations up by around 25% compared to the week before.
Covid-19 patients currently make up 14.1% of patients in intensive care with 75.8% of intensive care beds occupied.
Covid-19 deaths were up this week. Last week there were 25. This week there were 39. There is a lag on this figure too. Last week’s number rose from 21 to 25 (+19%) after the numbers came in.
However, the link between Covid-19 infections and hospitalisations and deaths has been significantly weakened. Currently, the ratio of deaths to cases is around a fifth of what it was at the same time last year. High rates of immunity from vaccinations and exposure to the virus appear to have weakened the virus’s impact.
The latest antibody study done in Geneva in July 2021 shows a high prevalence of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Overall, 67% had antibodies and more than 90% of those over 65 had them. Since then a further 18% of the canton’s population has been vaccinated.
Four days in, Switzerland’s week-long vaccination push has had little impact on vaccination rates. This week the percentage with one or more shots rose 0.34 percentage points to 66.61%. Switzerland now has a well-established anti-vaccination movement, which is supported by a number of political leaders. In addition, a vote scheduled for 28 November 2021 against Covid-19 laws introduced by the federal parliament has created a rallying point for disparate groups of protestors, which may have further strengthened the movement.
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Elle says
You do not say whether the new Covid cases are from people who are vaccinated or not. In other countries, particularly Israel and the UK, it is the double vaccinated who are getting Covid. With the vote coming up on 28th November, it is important for people to know if the vaccines are actually working. Natural immunity is a lot more effective.
Le News says
The FOPH does not publish this data. However, only 8% of those hospitalised since 21 Jan 2021 were fully vaccinated – data here. Vaccine protection is not perfect but appears to be high after 2 shots – this study shows that mRNA vaccines like the ones used in Switzerland are 89% effective at keeping people (50 and over) out of hospital. Whether natural immunity is more effective remains unclear – this study suggests vaccine protection is 5.5 times better than natural immunity. It is also important to consider that acquiring natural immunity requires infection, which carries the risk of long Covid, hospitalisation and a chance, albeit low for most of us, of death. In addition, it’s important to consider the mathematics. If 80% of a population is vaccinated and 50% of those infected are vaccinated then the infection rate among the unvaccinated is 4 times that of the vaccinated i.e. given that vaccination isn’t 100% effective as more get vaccinated more of the infected will be among those who are vaccinated. But this does not mean vaccines do not work. It means, in this hypothetical example, they reduce the chance of disease 4-fold rather than by 100%.
Carol says
Why is switzerland so delusion when it comes to the covid 19 vaccination?