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Tracking the chains of infection is a key element in preventing the uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus. But there are problems with contact tracing in several cantons, and capacity bottlenecks may soon develop.
In the canton of Vaud, the number of cases is increasing considerably again. Contact tracing remains one of the central measures in the fight against the coronavirus. However, it can often be difficult to trace the contacts of people who have tested positive.
Rebecca Ruiz, Vaud Canton Health Director, says: “We say it quite frankly: we are in a difficult situation with regard to localization. There were situations where the contact trackers were overloaded and therefore delays occurred. “
Follow-up is difficult
Also, some people are not interested in going into quarantine, says Ruiz. This is also the reason why contact trackers don’t have an easy task. The canton of Vaud has tightened its crown measures due to the increasing number of cases.
Epidemiologist Marcel Salathé also sees difficulties in contact tracing. It depends on where the cases occurred, he explains.
“If there were many cases in a cluster, this would make management a little easier. Or there were 900 cases that occurred spread over multiple regions. ”The more cases that occur across multiple regions, the more difficult it will be to trace contacts.
Contact tracking is expanding
Several cantons have continuously increased the number of contact markers in recent days and weeks. So does the Canton of Zurich. The situation is currently under control, says Health Director Natalie Rickli: “We can guarantee up to 100 cases per day. Cases were already higher and we could still cover that. If necessary, we could also expand. “
With contact tracing, close contacts of people infected with the coronavirus are found. The SwissCovid app has been supporting this since the end of June.
Keystone
Also in the canton of Vaud, attempts are being made to use all available resources. “But it is clear that we cannot expand at will. At some point, new decisions will be needed at the national level, ”says Health Director Rebecca Ruiz.
There is always a plan B in this regard, that is, in which the measures could be further toughened.
The increasing number of cases means that more contact trackers are needed. However, cantons cannot expand the location system at will. Is there a plan B for the future?
Epidemiologist Marcel Salathé says: “There is always a plan B in this regard, that is, in which the measures could be further toughened. In an extreme case, this could lead to a kind of crash again. Of course we all want to avoid that. “
With the increasing number of cases, contact trackers won’t be out of work in the future either. Especially since large events with more than 1000 people are allowed again in Switzerland from October.
