Mathys: “Anyone who has symptoms does not belong in the workplace”
“In my opinion, anyone who has symptoms and may also know from a test that he or she has Covid-19 does not belong on public transport or at work. That is unreasonable,” emphasizes Patrick Mathys.
Have many people been infected more than once?
The question and answer session is open. A journalist would like to know whether many people are currently infected with the virus more than once. “For many weeks, the infection rate has been very high,” says Stadler. We know that people can get infected more than once.
“Reinfection is only considered if there are two positive tests within 90 days.” This number is very low, says Mathys. The reinfections at Omikron are rather small, as far as data are available here.
Hauri urges compliance with hygiene rules
In the individual cantons, the situation must again be assessed primarily locally and regionally, Rudolf Hauri continues. “Even if the corona measures should be lifted at the beginning of April, it is still appropriate that we do not immediately forget all the rules such as hand hygiene, ventilation and wearing masks in confined indoor spaces. In this way, we are helping to protect people at increased risk.”
Hauri: “Many infections at work and in sports”
Rudolf Hauri, Zug Cantonal Physician and President of the Association of Cantonal Physicians (VKS), comments on the situation in the cantons: “Viral activity is still very high, although it varies somewhat from canton to canton. Carnival and other small celebrations were quickly reflected in increasing infections. From contact tracing, we currently see infections in addition to family and friends, mainly at work and during sports. This is not surprising given the easy transferability of the Omikron variant.»
“Even after the end of the task force, there will continue to be research on SARS-CoV-2”
Many people are affected by Long Covid and need appropriate treatment, Stadler said. Long-term mental health is also important. “Even after the end of the task force, research on SARS-CoV-2 will continue,” says Stadler.
Stadler: “Wearing a mask offers good protection”
Stadler quotes from a task force document from mid-February. “On the one hand, good indoor air quality must be ensured. Wearing a mask offers good protection.” These two possibilities must be considered at all times in the future. You need data to see how the situation is developing, says Stadler.
Stadler: “The immunity to severe cases protects us at Omikron from many deaths”
Tanja Stadler, President of the National Covid-19 Science Taskforce, now has her say. “Currently there is no longer a crisis situation in Switzerland”. The task force will be dissolved at the end of March, and Stadler is using the moment to give another assessment. “The R value has increased significantly.” In the spring, it is expected that the wave will flatten out again. “The immunity to severe courses protects us from many deaths at Omikron.”
Berger: “Immunity in Switzerland is high”
Immunity through vaccination and additional infections in the population is high. Accordingly, the need to recommend a second booster vaccination is low, says Berger.
BAG and Ekif do not recommend a second booster vaccination
Now Berger talks about the second booster vaccination. “A study from Israel shows that an initial booster dose is superior to protection with just two doses. A second booster dose restores high antibody levels but has little efficacy against infection in these individuals. A second booster vaccination of healthy young people could therefore be of little benefit.”
According to Berger, the Ekif and the BAG would not currently recommend a second booster vaccination. “Such a vaccination can, however, be carried out by the family doctor in individual cases after the person who wants it has been informed accordingly.”
Vaccinations protect against serious diseases, but not against virus transmission
Next, Christoph Berger, President of the Federal Commission for Vaccination (Ekif), speaks: “The mRNA vaccines show a good effect and lasting protection against serious diseases.”
The protection after two vaccinations and a booster vaccination against serious diseases is maintained. However, this is not the case for protection against milder diseases and general virus transmission. “This protection is incomplete, or hardly available with new virus variants,” says Berger.
Corona case numbers only weekly
Mathys explains that the current corona key figures will only be communicated once a week from April. The current figures would be announced every Tuesday afternoon.
Mathys: «Too many factors can play a role»
Mathys explains that predictions are difficult. “Too many factors can play a role.” It is about how to monitor and describe the situation. For monitoring, already established actions would continue:
– the mandatory reporting system
– waste water monitoring
– Samples in the mobile/young and in the old population
– Registration of the number of vaccinations and the number of those who have recovered
– Antibody Studies
Hospitalizations are increasing
There was also a slight increase in hospitalizations, but not in the same proportion as the increase in cases, says Mathys. Mathys explains that the vulnerable people are well protected by the vaccination. “Despite the high number of cases, the courses at Omikron are significantly less severe in old people’s and nursing homes,” says Mathys. Thanks to the high level of immunity, high numbers of cases can now be allowed without risking the health institutions being overburdened again.
Mathys: “The BA.2 subvariant is mainly responsible for the infections”
Mathys explains that around 10 percent of the population are still potential virus carriers and could be contagious. “Responsible for the infections is mainly the sub-variant BA.2.” In the next two to three weeks, the number of cases would increase again. “After that, a significant reduction is to be expected.”
Mathys: “The virus won’t just go away like that”
Patrick Mathys, Head of the Crisis Management and International Cooperation Section at the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), begins the point de press. “Today’s Point de Presse is the 100th event.” It is a sign that the virus does not intend to just disappear. In the last week of February there was another sharp increase in the number of cases, according to Mathys.
Live at 2 p.m.: BAG provides information on the current situation
Masks are still compulsory in Swiss public transport. This is to be lifted as one of the last corona measures on April 1st. Are the easing justified despite the high number of cases? At 2 p.m., the BAG will provide information on the epidemiological situation. The following professionals will take part:
- Patrick Mathys, Head of the Crisis Management and International Cooperation Section at the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG)
- Christoph Berger, President of the Federal Commission for Vaccination (EKIF)
- Tanja Stadler, President of the National Covid-19 Science Taskforce
- Rudolf Hauri, Cantonal Physician Zug and President of the Association of Cantonal Physicians (VKS)
Follow the Point de Presse here in the live ticker, above in the live stream and on SRF info.
BAG Bulletin: 15 percent more hospitalized
- The Federal Office of Public Health has lunch today 23,793 new cases reported who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past few days.
- That’s it 7-day average at 26,517. These are 3 percent less than in the previous week. The 14-day incidence is current 4347.54.
- The BAG reports 224 new hospital admissionsthe 14-day average is included 113 hospital admissions per day. Get current 2040 people treated in a hospital for Covid-19. These are 15 percent more than in the previous week.
- Currently are 156 Covid-19 patients in intensive care. These are 9 percent more compared to the previous week. the intensive care beds in Swiss hospitals (including ad hoc beds) are currently closed 74 percent fully occupied. 19 percent of the intensive care beds are occupied by Covid 19 patients.
- The BAG reports 20 new deceased. The 7-day average is included 10 deceased.
- The positive rate in the 7-day average is currently 49.9 percent. This means that out of 100 tests, around 50 tests were positive on average. Compared to the previous week, the positive rate is over 2 percentage points dropped. The test volume in the 7-day average is included 60,681 tests per day and is thus over compared to the previous week 4 percent gone up.
- So far in Switzerland 15’688’314 vaccinations administered (including “booster” vaccinations). According to current calculations are average 2147 people vaccinated per day. These are 7.9 percent less than in the previous week. Currently have with it 69.1 percent of the population received at least two doses (“fully vaccinated”). 41.9 percent of the population have already received a third dose (“booster”).
Norwegian king tested positive
Norway’s King Harald has tested positive for the corona virus. The 85-year-old has slight symptoms and will be out in the next few days, the palace in Oslo said. Crown Prince Haakon will temporarily carry out the duties of the king.
Legend:
Harald and his wife Sonja (84) have both been vaccinated three times against Covid-19, they received the booster dose last autumn.
Reuters
City of Zurich posts big plus despite Corona
Despite the pandemic, the city of Zurich can post an increase of CHF 120.1 million for 2021. A minus of CHF 185.4 million was actually budgeted.
The budgeted minus was made up for by higher income: the city did particularly well in terms of tax revenue. CHF 161.2 million more flowed into the city treasury than budgeted. In addition, the corona-related burdens were lower than feared.
For City Councilor Daniel Leupi (Greens), this positive statement of accounts is “all the more gratifying”, especially in times of a pandemic.
South Korea orders its own vaccine for the first time
The South Korean health authority KDCA has ordered ten million doses of the country’s first corona vaccine. A corresponding purchase agreement has been reached with the South Korean company SK bioscience, said a spokesman for the agency for disease control and prevention. Delivery is expected to take place in the second half of the year. The pre-order is worth 200 billion won (about 153 million Swiss francs).
The company hopes to receive approval for the production of the “vaccine candidate BP510” in the first half of the year and later to be able to sell the drug worldwide. Similar to Novavax’s Nuvaxovid, BP510 is a protein vaccine based on different technology than Pfizer’s and Moderna’s mRNA preparations.