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GAETAN BALLY
According to the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), the new variant of the virus with the designation VOC-202012/01 has already been detected in two samples from Switzerland. Great efforts are now being made to analyze whether the virus is already more widespread in Switzerland, the working group writes in a statement published on Christmas Day.
Information from various health authorities indicated that VOC-202012/01 is spreading rapidly and is likely to be more contagious than other Sars-Cov-2 variants. However, there is currently no evidence that the new variant of the virus causes more serious illness than other variants. There is also no evidence that the virus variant is not covered by the immune response caused by vaccines.
Therefore, the new variant of the virus poses an additional risk for Switzerland, as its spread would make it more difficult to control the epidemic in Switzerland.
The working group had already communicated on December 15 that, from its point of view, strict measures were indicated at the national level. The emergence of the probably most contagious virus variant further increases this urgency, the task force now writes.
Fewer contacts, more traceability
In order to prevent or slow down the spread of the new virus variant in Switzerland, from the perspective of the working group, in addition to measures to reduce contact, an immediate expansion of cantonal testing and tracing capabilities, as well as the constant implementation of isolation and quarantine. Necessary regulations. Efforts to identify groups and sources of infection are particularly important in the current situation.
All known measures would also work against the new variant of the virus, the working group continues. For transmissions, contacts are needed and something can be actively done against them together, that is, reducing the contacts as much as possible.
For weeks, Switzerland has been in a situation of epidemiological risk with a very high number of infections and deaths, a constant increase in several regions and a health system that is under extremely heavy pressure. The coming days and weeks would host additional risk factors: holidays and winter tourism with increased contacts and mobility and the possibility of further drops in temperature. (SDA)
Note D. Red .: The Federal Council wants to decide on new measures in its session on Wednesday, December 28.
