Death rates among residents of Swiss nursing and retirement homes were 80% higher than normal in the last months of 2020, when the country was in the grip of a virulent second wave of Covid-19.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/mga
During the whole course of last year, some 16% more deaths (4,978) were recorded at such institutions while 8% more people died in hospital (2,015) compared with 2019, largely as a result of the pandemic.
Deaths rates were particularly severe in nursing and retirement homes from mid-October to the end of the year (+80%). In the last two months of 2020, hospitals recorded over 50% more deaths than the same period in 2019.
These are the findings of a reportExternal link from the Federal Statistical Office into the impact of Covid-19 on the Swiss healthcare services in 2020.
The figures clearly show that hospitals as well as nursing and retirement homes for the elderly bore the brunt of the pandemic.
Intensive care units (ICUs) at hospitals came under particular stress during both the first and second waves.
Between March 16 and April 5, 2020, 51% more intensive care hours were logged compared with 2019. The period between October 26 and November saw a rise of nearly 42%.
As a result, the government ordered non-essential hospital appointments to be postponed. This meant that 72,000 fewer patients were booked into Swiss hospitals last year compared with 2019.
Hospitals suffered financial losses of CHF800 million ($869 million), only a fraction of which was covered by state-funded compensation.
Nursing and retirement homes ended up with combined losses of CHF380 million, according to the report.
More
More
Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
This content was published on
An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Swiss parliamentary commission to investigate F-35 purchase
This content was published on
The Swiss government and the other responsible authorities must once again answer critical questions about the procurement of the F-35 fighter jets.
Objections and appeals most common obstacles to residential construction projects
This content was published on
Objections and appeals are most frequently responsible for delays in new residential construction projects in Switzerland.
Swiss electricity prices predicted to fall in 2026
This content was published on
Electricity prices in 2026 are likely to be lower than this year, according to a survey. The main reason is the fall in prices on the electricity market.
Mpox virus can also infect the brain, say Swiss scientists
This content was published on
In view of the recent worldwide increase in Mpox cases, these new findings are of great importance, according to the University of Bern.
Switzerland and Ivory Coast sign agreement on cultural assets
This content was published on
Culture Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider signed an agreement on cultural assets with Ivorian Culture Minister Françoise Remarck in Côte d'Ivoire on Monday. It is the first of its kind to be concluded with a country from the region.
This content was published on
A snake almost one-and-a-half metres long was discovered on Saturday in a garden in Veltheim, northern Switzerland. It was a red, black and white kingsnake.
This content was published on
The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Swissinfo's parent company, must restructure due to financial pressures and to stay competitive in the fast-moving media environment.
This content was published on
There has been a sharp decline in the consumption of single-use disposable plastic bags and reusable plastic bags in the Swiss retail sector.
This content was published on
A biometric Swiss identity card (ID) is expected to be available in Switzerland by the end of 2026. The Federal Office of Police and its federal and cantonal partners are working on a new ID card that features a chip.
This content was published on
Most of the losses were incurred during the first lockdown in the spring of 2020, says a study by consultancy firm PwC and the SpitalBenchmark Association, which monitors the finances of hospitals. On Friday, the Hospitals Association H+ repeated demands for compensation, which had been rejected by health minister Alain Berset last year. Some cantons…
Interior minister rejects hospitals’ plea for Covid compensation
This content was published on
An organisation representing public and private clinics, H+ Swiss Hospitals, is complaining of a CHF2.6 billion ($2.9 billion) hole in income following a five-week freeze on elective procedures at the height of the pandemic. The government had called a halt to non-essential healthcare using emergency powers. Hospital officials met with Berset on Tuesday but failed…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.