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This week, for the first time, new record highs were no longer reported almost daily when it came to the number of new coronavirus infections. But the turnaround has not been achieved, warns the Corona task force, which is providing advice to the federal government. In a recently published assessment of the situation, the alarm sounds: the measures taken so far may not be enough.
At best, there is stabilization in the pandemic, but certainly no decline, according to the newspaper. Because the number of unreported cases of new infections is still suspected to be high, with 20 to 30 percent of tests still positive. Furthermore, hospital admissions are often reported late. Therefore, the so-called R-value, which indicates how many other people infected by one infected person, may be underestimated. And even if the current estimate of 0.91 is correct, that doesn’t give Switzerland a safer starting position.
No more space in intensive care units
The task force hopes that hospitals will already reach their capacity limits. And especially in the case of intensive care places “they may have already been exceeded.” According to data from the Armed Forces Coordination Service (KSD), Switzerland “has essentially reached the full capacity of 885 certified adult intensive care beds.” Because currently 867 patients are in intensive care, 511 of them for Corona.
There is no stabilization in intensive care beds – the number of patients has increased by 10 percent in the last four days. The task force also warns of a “hoarding effect”: Anyone who ends up in the intensive care unit needs the space for an average of 12 days.
The task force calls for a goal of halving the number of new infections every day at least every two weeks. As has been the case since last week, it also recommends new measures, now also restricting private contacts to two households.
- Closing of bars, restaurants, sports halls, theaters, museums and cancellation of concerts
- Private meetings are limited to a maximum of two households.
- Enforce home office
- Complete distance learning in post-compulsory education
The compulsory schools will remain open for the time being. For the moment: If the other measures do not help, the closure of secondary and elementary schools should be “considered” if necessary. (gbl)
