During the summer, an average of 5.3 people out of 1,000 were given the smear test every week, according to an analysis by RTS published today. In neigbouring France and Germany, the figure was closer to 8 and as high as 17.6 in the US.
External Content
When questioned by RTS, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) responded that a lack of capacity was not the problem. According to the FOPH, the maximum testing capacity fluctuates between 20,000 and 25,000 samples per day compared to the 16,000 to 17,000 tests currently being carried out. However, the FOPH says it is working “to ensure an even greater volume”.
Other factors behind the numbers are that testing in in Switzerland is done in traditional medical structures like hospitals and clinics and almost exclusively on people showing symptoms of the virus. According to the FOPH, the responsibility for deciding who gets tested lies with the cantons. To improve access, the federal authorities recommend expanding the pool of testing options such as drive-in centres.
Popular Stories
More
Multinational companies
Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland
Swiss-EU negotiations: Cassis to meet Sefcovic in Bern
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis will meet the Vice-President of the EU Commission, Maros Sefcovic, in Bern on Wednesday.
Heavy snowfall in Switzerland causes traffic chaos and accidents
This content was published on
The heavy snowfall late on Thursday and during the night into Friday led to traffic chaos and many accidents in many regions of Switzerland.
Chimpanzee behaviours passed down through generations
This content was published on
Some of the complex behaviours of chimpanzees have been passed down and refined over generations. These include the combination of several tools for foraging.
More than 600,000 rounds of Swiss sniper ammunition reach Ukraine
This content was published on
Sniper ammunition from Swiss P Defence reached Ukraine via a Polish company in July 2023, reported SRF Investigativ on Thursday, citing official information.
Environment minister outlines Swiss efforts to limit global warming
This content was published on
Switzerland will do its part to achieve the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celcius, said Environment Minister Albert Rösti, who's attending COP29 in Baku.
This content was published on
Switzerland remains by a large margin the European champion of train travel, both in terms of the number of journeys per person and the number of kilometres travelled. Switzerland remains by a large margin the European champion of train travel, both in terms of the number of journeys per person and the number of kilometres travelled. Switzerland remains by a large margin the European champion of train travel, both in terms of the number of journeys per person and the number of kilometres travelled.
Assisted suicide: Sarco inventor defends himself against killing rumours
This content was published on
Sarco inventor Philip Nitschke has defended himself against rumours that one of his colleagues assisted in the suicide of a woman in Schaffhausen, northern Switzerland.
Too much attention paid to queer people, says Swiss survey
This content was published on
Most Swiss are well disposed towards LGBTQ people, according to a study. However, prejudice and intolerance persist in certain sectors of society, particularly towards transgender and intersex people.
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.
Read more
More
What is considered enough when it comes to coronavirus testing?
This content was published on
In this second collection of answers to readers’ questions, we explore who can get tested, and whether an optimal testing rate exists.
Government to pay for Covid tests to contain pandemic
This content was published on
The Swiss government has agreed to foot the bill for medical tests for coronavirus infections to encourage the population to participate in prevention efforts.
This content was published on
In frustration at the government’s decision to check only high-risk groups, some Swiss cantons have set up their own testing facilities.
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.