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Anyone who may have been infected should be isolated for 10 days. This duration is now under discussion.
Anyone suspected of being infected with the coronavirus or having tested positive should be in isolation or quarantined. In many countries, it takes different lengths of time. In Germany it is currently 14 days, in Switzerland 10.
A debate has arisen in Germany as to whether the duration of self-isolation at home could be reduced to five days under certain circumstances. The question of the duration of a quarantine is now also a problem with cantonal health directors.
The question is legitimate, says Lukas Engelberger, president of the Directors of Health Conference (GDK): “Today we have more than 12,000 people in quarantine. I understand that this is also a heavy burden for those affected and a disadvantage for working life. “
But he doesn’t want to be pressured, Engelberger says. “The quarantine should last as long as it makes scientific sense to reduce the risk of infection.”
Database is missing
So scientists are in demand, but they lack the data to respond, says biologist Sebastian Bonhoeffer of ETH Zurich. He is a member of the federal Covid-19 task force.
The data situation is not good. I am not aware of any data from which this can be derived precisely. “People would have to be examined several times during the quarantine, after five, eight or ten days.” This data could be used to determine exactly when a quarantine can be canceled optimally, ”explains Bonhoeffer.
Virologist Alexandra Trkola from the University of Zurich also calls for more studies to be carried out now. The time for this is ideal. “Now we have a constant number of people in quarantine. Now, if you tackle it consistently, you can find out in a few weeks. “
Again we have to close ranks
The virologist runs a laboratory and knows how complex and expensive the tests are. Therefore, science also needs the support of the authorities. The next meeting between cantonal health directors and Interior Minister Alain Berset is scheduled for Monday.
“Now you need solidarity between the authorities on how to better assess this phase of the quarantine, to have the facts and to be able to say with certainty, yes, it can be shortened,” says Trkola.
Engelberger supports this: “If scientists can show us that only a few cases are discovered after day 5 of the quarantine, then it would probably make sense to shorten the quarantine to reduce the burden.”
But now that the number of cases in Switzerland is increasing and a new easing has been decided, a shortened quarantine is too risky an attempt, scientists warn.
