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- The federal task force in the fight against the coronavirus considers necessary measures at the national level to reduce contacts.
- Immediate expansion of cantonal testing and tracing capabilities is also necessary.
- Additionally, isolation and quarantine regulations should be implemented consistently.
- Efforts to identify groups and sources of infection are also particularly important.
- The reason is the variant of coronavirus VOC-202012/01, probably more contagious, which has also recently been recognized in Switzerland.
According to the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), the new coronavirus variant VOC-202012/01 has already been detected in two samples from Switzerland. The federal working group against the coronavirus writes in a statement that it is currently analyzing whether this virus is widespread in Switzerland and how widespread it is.
Swiss National Scientific Working Group COVID-19
Research by various health authorities indicated that VOC-202012/01 is spreading rapidly and is likely to be more contagious than other Sars-Cov-2 variants. There is currently no evidence that the new variant of the virus causes more serious illness. Existing vaccines would also work with the new variant of the virus.
New risks of a new virus variant
Therefore, the new variant of the virus poses an additional risk for Switzerland because its spread would make it more difficult to control the epidemic in Switzerland.
The working group had already communicated in mid-December that strict measures were indicated at the national level. Scientists emphasize that the new variant of the virus increases this urgency.
To stop the spread of the new virus variant in Switzerland, the working group believes that national contact reduction measures are necessary.
In addition, cantonal testing and tracing capabilities should be expanded. Isolation and quarantine regulations must be implemented consistently. Efforts to identify groups and sources of infection are also important.
The above measures are still effective
All known measures would also work against the new variant of the virus, the working group writes in its statement. 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 next days and weeks would have additional risk factors with holidays and winter tourism with an increase in contacts and mobility as well as possible new drops in temperature.
