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In Wednesday’s TVO talk, the St. Gallen chief physician emphasized the mostly mild course of many cases of the second corona wave that has begun. Neither Vernazza nor Thurgau’s health director, Urs Martin, want tougher measures, but the population must take protection regulations seriously.
According to the Federal Council, the situation of the crown in Switzerland is bad and uncomfortable, the number of cases is also increasing rapidly in eastern Switzerland, on Wednesday more than 400 new cases in the canton of St. Gallen, more than 100 in Thurgau . In Pietro Vernazza’s TVO Corona talk, moderator Stefan Schmid, editor-in-chief of St. Galler Tagblatt, wants to know if the chief infectious disease specialist at St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital is still sober. “Just as sober,” responds the chief physician, putting the figures in perspective: In the first wave, hospitalizations were evaluated, now there are between 10,000 and 20,000 tests a day in people with mild symptoms. It is normal for the numbers to increase:
“Every fall, respiratory viruses spread.”
According to Vernazza, the hospital is also experiencing a rapid increase in the number of cases, with 25 to 28 percent of staff testing positive. But most of them are mild cases with a slight cough and mild fever. On the objection of the SVP governing council that this week in Thurgau a woman under 40 was seriously ill, Vernazza emphasizes:
“Serious cases are also on the rise and must be monitored. But the occupancy of intensive care units is significantly lower among children. And we are well prepared. “
Health directors in eastern Switzerland reject short-term regional blockade
Bars and sports facilities will be closed in Valais, Basel-Stadt will again limit the football audience to 1,000 people. Schmid asks if in eastern Switzerland, which has areas at risk in Innerrhoden or Toggenburg, no stricter measures are necessary. Health directors had discussed this, but said no for now, Martin says: “A short regional shutdown is out of the question for us. We have a good decentralized healthcare system and we can wait and see before we shoot. ”
Anything but alarmists: Infectious disease specialist Pietro Vernazza (left) in the TVO study talks to moderator Stefan Schmid and Thurgau’s health chief Urs Martin.
Since the last blockade, the transmission rate has decreased from 3 to 1, explains infectologist Vernazza. Consequently, the motivating appeal helped the population to take protective measures, such as the use of masks. “People are mature enough to deal with it.” Schmid asks if the masks were helpful. Vernazza remains sober: “The severity of the disease will probably decrease. But the requirement for a mask will not significantly change our Covid-19 problem. ”
Allow life, but not superpreader events like parties
As director of health, who is also the financial director and fiscal administrator, you must maintain the proportionality of the measures and balance the consequences, says Urs Martin. “Unlike the spring, today there is great skepticism among the population. So we need to do more educational work. Most people understand, however, that it is five minutes to twelve. “Is the situation that serious?” Judging by the development of the deaths, it is not serious, “says Vernazza. In the spring it affected people non-immune, “but now the severity will become increasingly mild and immunity will increase.” Although there are more diseases, “starting” with cases of serious long-term consequences is inappropriate, says Vernazza:
“I have many patients with post-infectious states who are mentally ill and need an intravenous line, this is not new and will continue to exist in the future.”
Vernazza thinks about Martin’s pragmatic and liberal attitude of allowing life as much as possible, even at important events, but minimizing risks. Above all, the restrictions called for “certain super spreader events,” which soccer games had not been until now. Choral concerts, on the other hand, are different: Vernazza himself will work in the choir for three days at the weekend, “Singing is extremely contagious, that’s why we test each singer an hour before the performance.” Which is especially true for wind and tuba players, says Martin with slight envy of the chief physician’s privileged position with tests to assess a possible use:
“I’d also like a quick test case.”
In the end, the SVP health director appealed to the population to respect the rules of the crown again more seriously: “and do not please the parties.” Vernazza asks for hygiene: «Wash your hands and do not put your hand in your face. And air, air, air! “
