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With the current high number of cases, it is difficult for the cantons to specifically interrupt the chains of infection. Will Swiss contact tracing soon reach its limits?
Martin Ackermann, head of the federal Covid Taskforce, said on Radio SRF’s Saturday broadcast: “Switzerland’s strategy is based on being able to understand the contacts of infected people and selectively interrupt chains of infection. With the current high number of cases, this is incredibly difficult and time consuming for the cantons. “
In other words, the Swiss strategy could fail. In the canton of Zurich, people infected by the crown now have to send their contacts to quarantine because official bodies are overloaded with many cases, writes the “Sunday newspaper” today.
The system is not overloaded, but it is necessary
Bettina Bally, deputy doctor of the canton of Zurich, denies: “We have not lost control. Contact tracing is running in the canton of Zurich. “But the numbers are high and that is why the infected are being asked for help to find their contacts more quickly.” We are working on optimizing processes and have hired more staff during the weekend to be able to cope with the growing number. “The system is not overloaded, but it is necessary.
The system is also required in other cantons, such as Vaud. There, the government was criticized for adjusting quarantine rules in mid-September. The Vaud only sent close contacts of those who have tested positive for quarantine, because otherwise the contact tracers would no longer have been able to cope with the many cases.
1500 people joining contact tracing in 48 hours puts a huge burden on the system.
But the canton of Bern is also struggling. This weekend, the government quarantined more than 1,500 people after going to clubs and bars. Today, the canton reports 134 new positive cases in the last 24 hours, one of the highest values in the canton of Bern since the beginning of the pandemic.
Cantons are increasing their tracking teams
Gundekar Giebel from the Bern Canton Health Department says: “The situation in contact tracing is orange, if not dark orange, because 1,500 people reaching contact tracing in 48 hours place a huge burden on the system. We need more people for our contact tracing starting next week. “
In addition to the 100 existing ones, 50 new contact tracers will be used in Bern. The cantons are currently expanding their contact tracing in the hope of coping with the rapidly increasing number of cases in the coming weeks.
