The Swiss authorities should have been more open about what they did and didn’t know about the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the early stages, according to Bertrand Kiefer, doctor, ethicist and editor of the Swiss Medical Review. Speaking to RTS, Kiefer said he believes the public should be treated like adults. A paternalistic approach to communication […]
Coronavirus: support for masks and tracing apps dwindles in Switzerland
After a month of relatively few new cases of infection, the percentage of the Swiss public that supports mandatory mask wearing on public transport is in decline, according to a recent survey run by Sotomo on behalf of RTS. Masks, testing and tracing apps have been a central part of the response to the spread […]
Coronavirus: percentage of Swiss expecting a resurgence drops sharply
A poll by Sotomo run in June 2020 on behalf of RTS suggests 26% of the Swiss public expect a resurgence of Covid-19 cases. When the survey was run in May 2020, 51% of those questioned expected the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Switzerland to grow – 14% expected a strong increase and 37% expected […]
Coronavirus: cheap drug substantially cuts severe case death risk, according to large UK trial
A trial at Oxford University suggests an existing low-cost drug can cut the risk of death from Covid-19 substantially. Tests involving 6,000 hospitalised Covid-19 patients suggest the drug can cut the risk of death for those on ventilators from 40% to 28%. For patients needing oxygen the risk of death could be cut from 25% […]
Coronavirus: the rising number of mild cases with symptoms lasting months
Those with mild Covid-19 symptoms are supposed to recover after two weeks. However, a rising number of relatively young people with mild cases report symptoms months later. Johns Hopkins Medicine says that those with mild cases of COVID-19 appear to recover within one to two weeks. For severe cases, recovery may take six weeks or […]
Coronavirus: national lockdown not part of Switzerland’s second wave response plan
Switzerland’s federal government is against imposing nationwide restrictions to slow the spread of a second wave on infections, according to the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper. The federal government plan, which is under development, is more regional than the response to the first wave of infections and focuses decision making power at the cantonal level, reported […]
Coronavirus: latest antibody study suggests 10.8% of Geneva infected in first wave
A recently published update to the ongoing study in Geneva to assess the extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection suggests 10.8% of the population may have been infected in the first wave of infections. The study, which tests a sample of the population over time for IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, started in early April 2020. The latest figures […]
Coronavirus: social distancing measures may have prevented 3.1 million deaths in Europe
A study recently published by Imperial College London estimates measures implemented to slow the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus might have saved 3.1 million lives across 11 European nations, including Switzerland. From 2 to 29 March 2020, European countries began implementing measures to slow viral transmission, such as school closures and national lockdowns, to control […]
Coronavirus: new cases stable with small rise in deaths in Switzerland
In the seven days to 12 June 2020, the number of new SARS-CoV-2 infections recorded in Switzerland was 127. A similar number of new cases was recorded in the week before (108) and the week before that (121), according to Worldinfometer.com. However, the number of deaths was up slightly when comparing the recent week (17) […]
Coronavirus: Switzerland confirms lifting of COVID restrictions regarding all EU/EFTA states and UK
On 12 June 2020, Switzerland’s Federal Council approved an earlier plan by the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to remove Schengen States from the list of high-risk countries, and reintroduce rights of free movement into Switzerland from 15 June 2020. All restrictions imposed on persons entering Switzerland from the Schengen Area will be […]
