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The charts and figures that reveal Switzerland’s current Covid-19 situation

With the start of 2021, Switzerland’s epidemiological status remains more or less the same as it was at the end of last year. But in some respects, improvements can be seen.

Published: 6 January 2021 10:00 CET
The charts and figures that reveal Switzerland's current Covid-19 situation
Epidemiological situation in Switzerland is more or less stable, numbers show. Photo by AFP

The coronavirus pandemic is by no means finished, but latest numbers released by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) show there are some reasons for optimism:

The number of daily infections remains stable

Health officials indicated that the number — over 4,000 new cases each day — is too high. But it hasn’t risen dramatically in the past two weeks.

The chart below shows the current daily rate as of January 6th is well below the peak reached in mid-November but still much higher than in early autumn.

Currently, Switzerland’s rate of contaminations is 521,02 cases for 100,000 people.

However, as the map below shows, only five of the country’s 26 cantons (the ones shown in darker blue) exceed that number: Ticino (854 cases /100,000), St. Gallen (622,24), Lucerne (608), Aargau (593,14), and Zurich (592).

Curiously, Geneva, which in November reported the highest number of coronavirus infections in Europe, now records 341,38 cases per 100,000, falling well below the national average.

READ MORE: Has Switzerland's Covid vaccine rollout become a 'fiasco'?
 

Hospitalisations are declining

In October and November, many of Switzerland’s medical centres have reached, and in some cases even exceeded, their capacities.

“The pressure on hospitals remains high”, the heads of all five university hospitals in Switzerland — in Basel, Bern, Zurich, Lausanne and Geneva— said in a letter they sent to Health Minister Alain Berset in December. 

While many hospitals are still under pressure, the situation is better now, FOPH figures indicate.


The number of Covid-related deaths is falling

As is the case with hospitalisations, the number of deaths from coronavirus complications has also been falling in the last two weeks.

The average dropped from 0,96 cases per 100,000 recorded on December 27th, to 0.15 cases on January 4th.

Most of those who died were males over 80 years of age, followed by those between 70 and 79.


This FOPH site has all the figures related to Covid-19. 

READ MORE: Switzerland set to extend coronavirus measures 'until end of February' 

How does Switzerland compare to other countries in Europe?

When it comes to new Covid-19 cases Switzerland currently has higher rates than neighbouring countries Germany, Italy, France and Austria when population is taken into account.

 

When it comes to Covid-19 related deaths Switzerland is also seeing higher rates than its near neighbours.


This information is valid at the time of publication. Data may change at any time.
 

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COVID-19

What you need to know about the new Covid-19 wave in Switzerland

When the pandemic was winding down two years ago, health authorities warned that while the worst was over, Covid will keep re-emerging, in one form or another, in the future.

Published: 19 July 2024 11:45 CEST
What you need to know about the new Covid-19 wave in Switzerland

In Switzerland, the number of laboratory-confirmed coronavirus cases has increased by around 50 percent over the last four weeks, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).  

Add to it the undeclared cases, and that figure is even higher.

“The number of positive tests is climbing, and further increases cannot be ruled out,” FOPH said.

Overall, however, the number of infections remains low.

Why is Covid still around in Switzerland?

As epidemiologists predicted, coronavirus will keep mutating, with different strains emerging over time.

Covid’s new variants, KP.2 and KP.3, are currently circulating throughout the country, causing the number of cases to go up.

That’s because the latest variants spread fast and are particularly resistant to antibodies — which means that whatever immunity you may have built up through previous infections or vaccinations are not sufficient to stop new infections.

What are the symptoms?

The most common ones are similar to those of seasonal flu — that is, cough, fever, headache, muscle pain, cold, sore throat, as well as tiredness.

But just as with the previous bouts, some people will experience milder symptoms, while others more severe ones.

For the time being, these variants have not caused serious developments in most people, and only a small number have required hospitalisation.

What should you do if symptoms appear?

If you do become infected, FOPH recommends avoiding contact with other people, especially those who are particularly at risk of complications.

Measures imposed by the government during earlier outbreaks, such as isolation and quarantine, are not necessary at this point — though health authorities say that, similarly to to previous bouts, you should wear a mask and keep your distance.

And if you are in a high-risk group, contact your doctor immediately.

Should you get (re)vaccinated?

Ask your doctor about that.

Compulsory basic insurance will pay for the vaccine for high-risk people, and possibly their carertakers, based on doctor’s recommendations.

Others must pay for the shot out of their pockets. A dose costs around 100 francs.

Should you cancel your vacation if you test positive?

It is up to you and your own sense of responsibility.

“It would be best to cancel the flight immediately,” said Christiane Meier, vice-president of the Association of Cantonal Doctors. If you decide to go anyway, “wear a mask and keep your distance,” she added.
 
Should we expect a further increase in the number of cases after the holidays?

According to FOPH, it is not yet possible to know for sure, though this possibility can’t be excluded.

Swiss health authorities are constantly monitoring the evolution, but are not making any predictions for the moment.

What they do say is that though new variants spread fast and resist immunity, “there is no reason to panic at this stage.”

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