“The situation in Ticino is dramatic,” said Daniel Koch of the Federal Office of Public Health at a news conference on Thursday.
He said it was foreseeable that the hospitals in canton Ticino, bordering Italy, will not have beds for patients in intensive care in the next few days.
Koch said the number of places had been increased to avoid a situation where some patients can’t be admitted to hospital any longer, and a transfer to another region is too risky.
Overall Swiss hospitals have a total of 800 beds in intensive care, currently about 160 are still available.
Ticino has almost 180 cases of confirmed infections per 100,000 people. the number of cases is likely to rise further.
However, Koch said efforts were underway to provide more beds and other medical devices, including respirators to Ticino.
Support
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Alain Berset, whose portfolio includes health matters, has pledged to provide financial support to the Italian-speaking region in southern Switzerland.
Following talks with the cantonal authorities, Berset said the government was discussing a package of measures to support the different sectors of the local economy, granting access to special funds.
He said the restrictions, notably the closure of restaurants, bars and shops selling non-essential goods, will have a serious impact.
The army also deployed medical personnel in Ticino to provide logistical support for hospitals.
Ticino’s economy, which relies on more than 60,000 cross-border workers, is a popular tourist destination.
More
More
As virus spreads, Ticino curbs social life
This content was published on
The southern Swiss canton of Ticino, bordering Italy, is shuttering cinemas, ski resorts, gyms, nightclubs and non-compulsory schools.
This content was published on
For the first time, most Swiss residents favour withdrawing their pension pot as a lump-sum over regular annuity payments.
This content was published on
The cost of buying a home in Switzerland rose by 4.1% year-on-year in the last quarter and by 0.7% compared to the previous three months.
Landslide threatened Swiss village of Brienz faces many more evacuations
This content was published on
The population of the Swiss village of Brienz/Brinzauls isn warned to expect more landslide evacuations in the coming years.
This content was published on
Swiss International Air Lines will avoid Pakistani airspace until further notice due to rising tension between India and Pakistan.
Swiss defence minister reaffirms military cooperation with neighbours
This content was published on
On his first trip abroad in government, Defence Minister Martin Pfister visited the Swiss troops taking part in a major exercise in Austria.
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
Government to announce further Covid-19 economic measures
This content was published on
The debt measure will come into force at 7 am on Thursday, March 19, and run until midnight on April 4, the government announcedExternal link. During this period, no debt proceedings can be launched. The move comes as businesses and independent workers struggle to come to terms with the government-imposed closure of bars, restaurants, non-essential…
Rapid spread of coronavirus complicates systematic testing
This content was published on
The Swiss government has been criticised for its targeted coronavirus testing approach but locally, testing infrastructure is increasing.
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.