With the beginning of the colder season, the number of cases increases again. But the situation is not comparable to the Corona autumn of 2021.
In Germany, FFP2 masks have recently had to be worn again on public transport. In Switzerland, a mask requirement is currently not an issue.
How are the corona numbers developing?
As in the surrounding countries, the number of infections is increasing again in Switzerland after a quiet summer. On October 4, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 25,134 new Sars-CoV-2 infections within a week. That is 9,000 more cases than in the previous week. The number of hospital admissions has also risen to 290. In the previous week there were 212 admissions.
How does the Federal Office of Public Health assess the situation?
The BAG described the corona situation in early autumn as stable. According to the available data, well over half of all new corona infections in Switzerland can now be traced back to the new BA.5 subvariant of the omicron corona virus. This variant led to an increase in cases in June, which, however, had little effect on hospital capacities. The numbers have been falling again since mid-July.
However, a new wave is to be expected in the fall, BAG Vice Director Linda Nartey told the media on September 9. However, the situation is then likely to be significantly less dangerous than in previous years because the immunity of the population is high. More than 97 percent of the population could have developed antibodies at some point – either through vaccination or an infection. The main thing now is to prevent severe courses in people at risk, explained Nartey. It is no longer the goal to avert every illness.
Which corona rules apply in Switzerland?
At the beginning of April, the Federal Council lifted all state corona measures. Switzerland took this step earlier than other European countries and implemented the easing more consistently. For example, Germany and Italy retained the obligation to wear masks on public transport in the summer months.
Who should be vaccinated?
The vaccine adapted to the omicron variant BA.1 will be available in Switzerland from October 10th. A booster vaccination is recommended for people over 65 years of age, severely immunodeficient people, people with chronic illnesses and pregnant women. This is if your last Covid vaccination or infection was more than four months ago. Vaccination is also recommended for healthcare workers and caregivers of vulnerable individuals.
According to the BAG, there is also a general recommendation for all other people aged 16 to 64 without risk factors. For them, a booster vaccination makes sense after individual consideration and decision if they want to reduce the risk of infection or a rare severe course.
Experience to date has shown that a booster dose offers some short-term protection against infection and disease. Vaccination also protects against serious illnesses.
How great is the interest in the booster vaccination?
In most cantons it is possible to get vaccinated as early as next Monday. Various cantons have online portals where you can book appointments in the vaccination centers. In the canton of Lucerne, 2,468 people registered for the second booster vaccination a week before the start of the vaccination, as a spokesman for the health department explained on request. Lucerne Health Director Guido Graf assumes that many Lucerne residents will register. «The start of the campaign is in the middle of the autumn holidays. That’s why many interested people are absent.”
However, the situation cannot be compared to that in November 2021. When the registration tools for the first booster were activated, there were technical problems and numerous people who wanted to be vaccinated had to wait weeks for an appointment. The USA shows that the big run on booster vaccinations is over. In a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a research company specializing in health issues, only 45 percent of respondents aged 65 and over said they had had a booster vaccination for the second time or were planning to do so.
What is the situation in the hospitals?
The intensive care units in Switzerland were 73.5 percent occupied as of October 3rd. The number of Covid 19 patients was 31. So the situation is anything but dramatic. Nevertheless, health experts are looking forward to the autumn and winter season with concern. This is not primarily due to the Covid diseases, but to the acute shortage of skilled workers in nursing. “The search for free hospital beds is already starting – without Covid-19 and without flu,” explained Christoph Fux, chief infectiologist at the Cantonal Hospital Aarau (KSA), in the “Aargauer Zeitung”. Like other hospitals, the KSA had to refer patients to other hospitals last weekend because they lacked the human resources to take on more patients.
In order to prevent Covid transmissions in the hospital and corona-related staff absences, a stricter regime is again in place at the cantonal hospitals in Aarau and Baden. From October 7th, visitors to the KSA, patients in the outpatient area and nursing staff who are in contact with patients will have to wear masks again. Since the beginning of this week, a mask has had to be worn in the Baden Cantonal Hospital in areas where there is patient contact. “Should there be a flu epidemic at the end of October – like almost every year – the mask requirement will help to avoid influenza infections,” explains media spokesman Omar Gisler.
Will masks be compulsory again soon?
The reintroduction of a mask requirement, for example in public transport, is currently not an issue in Switzerland. In any case, the current situation does not seem to particularly worry the Federal Council, as the state government did not specifically deal with Covid-19 in its last meetings.
In addition, after the return to normal, the Federal Council sees the main responsibility in the cantons. The state government announced in March that the cantons would have to take the necessary measures if the number of cases rose again massively in the second half of the year and the healthcare system was threatened to be overwhelmed. So far, the cantons have made no move to tighten the protective measures again.
Do you still need the Covid certificate?
The obligation to obtain a certificate was lifted in Switzerland on February 17. A Covid certificate is also no longer required for entry into most other European countries. Still, the controversial document is not definitely history. In the autumn session, the National Council extended the Covid 19 law until 2024. If the Council of States agrees to this decision, the Federal Council can reintroduce the Covid certificate if the epidemiological situation requires it.