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“Test, test, test” is the motto. From the beginning of this week there are free trials for everyone. The Federal Council is launching a major test offensive. And he is paying for it: an estimated 1 billion francs. For the Minister of Health of the SP, Alain Berset (48), it is clear: “It is an important step towards flexibility.”
There are just a few more problems. Not all cantons really want to accept mass testing. And self-tests, five of which will be available for free and conveniently at the nearest pharmacy in the future, are still allowed.
But that should happen soon, as Fosca Gattoni, deputy director of the Therapeutic Products Law section of the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) emphasized at a press conference of federal crown experts: “We hope that self-tests will be available. in pharmacies since early April, he said. Self-tests still need to be validated before they can be passed.
Three pillars for testing strategy
But now the testing offensive should get under way: 40 percent of the population should get tested weekly!
If you do a lot of testing, it can contain chains of infection at an early stage, Gattoni says. The BAG rests on three pillars. First, all symptomatic individuals must be evaluated. Second, repeated massive testing is required in businesses, schools, nursing homes, etc. These free trials are intended to help prevent overcast events. The third pillar is free individual preventive tests for all, that is, planned self-tests from the home pharmacy.
Martin Bühler, Head of the Civil and Military Protection Office and Chief of the Cantonal General Staff, reported on the test strategy in the canton of Graubünden, where tests are already being carried out as part of the pooling in schools and companies . For example, all secondary schools in the canton and more than 95 percent of the other schools would already be participating.
Alain Berset on the massive tests: “We expect great interest”(01:55)
On the threshold of the third wave?
The expansion of the test strategy is also necessary, because the third wave is probably already rolling. “The number of cases continues to rise, the development is extremely uncertain and the question arises as to whether Switzerland is on the threshold of a third wave,” said Patrick Mathys, head of the crisis management and international cooperation section at FOPH.
Currently, the number of views is 1.13. With this number of reproductions, it can be assumed that the number of cases would double approximately every four weeks. Only in three cantons and in Liechtenstein is the R value less than 1.
Mutations of the virus are dominant in Switzerland, 80 percent of new infections are due to them. The British variant is in the foreground, the South African variant is a bit rarer. There were only a few cases of infection with one of the two Brazilian variants.
When asked by journalists if the third wave had started in Switzerland, Mathys said: “No. You cannot say that clearly. “However, the number of cases would increase and it is very possible that the road leads in this direction.” You cannot rule out the arrival of a third wave. “But he could not say if you are already in the point where it begins.
Risky openings
However, there are several factors that would favor the pandemic. For example, the spread of virus mutations or relaxation. “These are the drivers of the increase.” On the other hand, there would be vaccines, which could stop the pandemic. Likewise, the behavior of the population if it adheres to protection measures.
Are the openings decided by the Federal Council coming too soon? “It is not for me to decide whether to take the first steps,” says Mathys. However, from an epidemiological point of view, it is certainly not the most favorable situation to implement great opening steps now. But the Federal Council decides on the basis of several factors, not just epidemiologically. “But each initial step is associated with a certain risk.” The situation remains fragile.
Quick tests for everyone: That’s why this pharmacist cautions against the euphoria of testing(03:37)
Posted: Mar 16, 2021, 1:43 pm
Last Updated: March 16, 2021, 11 minutes ago
