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On October 28, the Federal Council decided on new restrictions. Alain Berset is now seeing “encouraging” signs, but not a turnaround yet.
A nurse cares for a Covid patient at the Geneva University Hospital monitoring station.
Photo: Martial Trezzini (Cornerstone)
Unlike other countries, Switzerland refrained from a nationwide lockdown or closure of all catering establishments in the second wave. On October 28, the Federal Council took various measures to break the curve. It severely restricted private events and occasions, demanded an extensive mask requirement, and urged employees to work at home. That was two weeks ago. Where do the measures come into force?
How high is the burden for hospitals?
The number of Covid patients in hospitals has been continuously increasing for weeks. On Wednesday alone, the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) reported 304 new hospital admissions of Covid patients. If the number of cases does not drop significantly in the coming days and weeks, but only stabilizes at a high level, hospitals will reach their limit. The main focus is on intensive care units (IPS), the number of which is limited. According to the latest figures from the Army Coordinated Medical Service this Wednesday, 3,739 Covid patients were in the hospital. 489 of these required an IPS space. Another 126 patients were in a monitoring station (Intermediate Care Unit). On Wednesday, a total of 297 IPS places were still available across Switzerland, plus 184 beds in monitoring rooms and 5,500 beds in intensive care rooms.
