Contact tracing not working properly, writes paper
Contact tracing is no longer working in some parts of Switzerland, owing to the recent sharp rise in coronavirus cases, reports the SonntagsZeitung newspaper.
In Zurich, for example, it says the contact tracing team is so overwhelmed that the canton now leaves it to potentially infected people to alert their contacts themselves. This is confirmed to the paper by cantonal health department spokeswoman Lina Lanz.
Sonntagszeitung says it also knows of several cases in which contact tracing failed and potentially infected persons were not alerted. In many cantons, only 10-20% of newly infected persons were quarantined at the time of a positive coronavirus test, it writes.
“Greater efficiency is needed to break chains of infection,” Bern-based epidemiologist Nicola Low tells the paper. “The rate of those already in quarantine when the infection is confirmed must be increased to 80 percent.”
Marcel Tanner, epidemiologist and member of the government’s Covid-19 taskforce admits that “contact tracing is reaching its limits in some places”. But he says “we must not give up contact tracing now under any circumstances” and the cantons must “make even greater efforts, otherwise a second wave will hit us”.
The number of new daily cases across Switzerland this week rose to over 1,000 for the first time since the height of the pandemic in spring.
More
More
Switzerland at ‘critical’ moment in pandemic
This content was published on
The head of the government’s Covid-19 taskforce has expressed concern about the rising number of cases .
A spokesman for the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has told the Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA that the government is working, in collaboration with the cantons, on a winter strategy to fight coronavirus. The strategy will be announced in the coming weeks, he said.
He thus confirmed a report in the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper on Sunday saying the government is considering various scenarios for regional lockdowns to stop the spread of the virus. The article is sourced to reports of telephone conversations between the FOPH and cantonal doctors.
Popular Stories
More
Workplace Switzerland
Meet the foreigners who make up a quarter of the Swiss population
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Switzerland edges closer to stricter screening of foreign investments
This content was published on
Foreign investors are set to face greater scrutiny in Switzerland as one parliamentary chamber passes the so-called Lex China bill.
Increase in animal testing in Switzerland last year
This content was published on
Almost 600,000 animals were used in animal experiments in Switzerland in 2023 - an increase of 1.6% compared to the previous year.
Beleaguered Swiss watch industry calls for political support
This content was published on
The Swiss watch industry is going through difficult times as global demand declines and the strong franc piles on the pressure.
This content was published on
Hollywood star Pamela Anderson will be honoured at the Zurich Film Festival for her career and role in the film The Last Showgirl.
Swiss factory rushes to prepare for Moderna Covid-19 vaccine
This content was published on
Workers are racing to set up production lines at the Lonza factory in Visp to be able to start making a vaccine for US firm Moderna later this year.
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.