The sharp rise in Switzerland since the end of June cases of infection with coronavirus disturbs local experts and authorities. The average daily increase in the number of cases exceeded over the past seven days 100, whereas in the first half of last month the figure was about 20.
Experts interviewed by the press, say about the beginning of the second wave of the pandemic and propose to introduce a rule for mandatory wearing of protective masks in stores and schools. At the moment the requirement to use them is valid in Switzerland only in respect of passengers of public transport, and also in two cantons of the country masks are mandatory in stores.
"the Second wave comes in Switzerland. We are seeing a trend towards increased infection," said in an interview with news portal "20 minutes" Andreas Cerny, infectious disease hospital of the city of Lugano.
However, the situation in the Swiss Confederation it is still better than in some other countries, particularly in Israel, as measures rapid identification of contacts of sick people with healthy protect the Swiss from "the rapid growth of new cases" of infection, he said. At the moment the system works, but lately, "there were warning signs". In particular, in the Canton of Grisons, urgently needed to attract additional staff to identify chains of infection.
As Cerny explained that two weeks ago each of cases infected in an average of one person and now this figure apparently increased. This means that "the epidemic is now under control". Further development of the epidemiological situation will depend on how quickly local authorities will be to introduce a rule of compulsory wearing of masks "in all closed spaces". In the cantons Vaud and Jura, the authorities have asked citizens to wear masks not only in public transport but also in stores. In Geneva this measure will be implemented since July 28.
According to Cerny, the lack of antiviral activities in Switzerland is that there is no systematic monitoring of compliance with the quarantine of persons arriving from countries listed by the Bern to "blacklist" in connection with an increased risk of infection. It now includes 42 countries and territories, including Russia and the United States.
For the introduction of compulsory wearing of masks in all areas with a large number of people, including shops, restaurants and schools, in favor of a government scientific expert group on the coronavirus, infectious disease from Basel Manuel Battegay.
The need for rapid response to the rise in infections also indicates a study conducted at the University of Bern. Scientists, by mathematical modeling estimate that, if the Swiss authorities had adopted strict quarantine measures n�� 16 March, and the week before, the number of deaths in the first wave of the epidemic of the coronavirus would not have exceeded 400 people.
According to the newspaper SonntagsBlick, Swiss authorities are unhappy that the areas are not strictly apply measures against the coronavirus. The publication refers to the Directive sent by the Federal office of public health authorities of the cantons.
More than 34 thousand people infected
In Switzerland as of July 26, identified more than 34.3 thousand cases of infection with the novel coronavirus, including 755 of the past seven days. Died of 1.7 million patients. The incidence is 401,7 people per 100 thousand inhabitants, and the mortality rate is 19.9.
In March and early April, the sanitary authorities have identified the country’s more than thousands of people infected with coronavirus. Then came the recession of morbidity, but from the end of June the rate of new infections rose again, with approximately 20 cases a day to the current more than 100. The reason experts call the mitigation measures of self-isolation.
Quarantine measures in connection with the spread of the coronavirus introduced in Switzerland on February 28. Since April 27, the authorities began to gradually lift the restrictions. From June 22 operates the fourth stage: the population’s life almost returned to normal. This preserves the requirement to comply with social distance is 1.5 meters, prohibited events with number of participants more than 1 thousand people. In addition, there are increased demands in areas with large concentrations of people.
