Death rates among residents of Swiss nursing and retirement homes were 80% higher than normal in the last months of 2020, when the country was in the grip of a virulent second wave of Covid-19.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/mga
During the whole course of last year, some 16% more deaths (4,978) were recorded at such institutions while 8% more people died in hospital (2,015) compared with 2019, largely as a result of the pandemic.
Deaths rates were particularly severe in nursing and retirement homes from mid-October to the end of the year (+80%). In the last two months of 2020, hospitals recorded over 50% more deaths than the same period in 2019.
These are the findings of a reportExternal link from the Federal Statistical Office into the impact of Covid-19 on the Swiss healthcare services in 2020.
The figures clearly show that hospitals as well as nursing and retirement homes for the elderly bore the brunt of the pandemic.
Intensive care units (ICUs) at hospitals came under particular stress during both the first and second waves.
Between March 16 and April 5, 2020, 51% more intensive care hours were logged compared with 2019. The period between October 26 and November saw a rise of nearly 42%.
As a result, the government ordered non-essential hospital appointments to be postponed. This meant that 72,000 fewer patients were booked into Swiss hospitals last year compared with 2019.
Hospitals suffered financial losses of CHF800 million ($869 million), only a fraction of which was covered by state-funded compensation.
Nursing and retirement homes ended up with combined losses of CHF380 million, according to the report.
More
More
Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
This content was published on
An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
Higher direct payments fail to curb scrub encroachment on alpine pastures
This content was published on
The scrub encroachment on Swiss alpine pastures leads to the loss of grassland and damages the typical landscape. It is also responsible for the decline in biodiversity. Despite higher direct payments, the bushes continue to spread.
Swiss population satisfied with life according to survey
This content was published on
In a survey, the population of German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland expressed general satisfaction with their lives. Respondents were less happy with politics and their personal finances, according to the online comparison service Moneyland.
WHO ‘extremely concerned’ about growing vaccination scepticism
This content was published on
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), vaccination scepticism and a collapse in funding for vaccination campaigns pose a major threat to the health of the world's population.
High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
This content was published on
The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.
Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
This content was published on
Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.
Swiss martyr beatified in Barcelona by Catholic Church
This content was published on
François-Benjamin May (1870-1909), a member of the Marist Brothers congregation, has been recognised as a 'blessed' by the Catholic Church.
This content was published on
Most of the losses were incurred during the first lockdown in the spring of 2020, says a study by consultancy firm PwC and the SpitalBenchmark Association, which monitors the finances of hospitals. On Friday, the Hospitals Association H+ repeated demands for compensation, which had been rejected by health minister Alain Berset last year. Some cantons…
Interior minister rejects hospitals’ plea for Covid compensation
This content was published on
An organisation representing public and private clinics, H+ Swiss Hospitals, is complaining of a CHF2.6 billion ($2.9 billion) hole in income following a five-week freeze on elective procedures at the height of the pandemic. The government had called a halt to non-essential healthcare using emergency powers. Hospital officials met with Berset on Tuesday but failed…
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.