Coronavirus infections rose by 9,207 and hospitalisations by 279, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) said on Friday. The death toll rose by 52, bringing the total to over 2,000 (2,037) for the first time.
At a press conference on Friday, the FOPH’s Virginie Masserey said that the second wave was “proceeding apace”. It was not the same as the first wave in spring as many more people were being tested. But the number of hospitalisations and deaths were developing along the same lines.
It is currently difficult to get all the results within the normal time parameters, meaning that there is some underreporting on the daily figures, she added.
More older people are being affected by the virus, Masserey said. Children are still less concerned.
Rapid tests, online check
The good news is that rapid Covid tests, which deliver results within 15 minutes, will be available from Monday. The tests, which need to be carried out by a medical professional, are recommended for people who have been symptomatic for less than four days and who are not in the risk groups.
People are being encouraged, through a new FOPH campaign being launched on Monday, to take an online coronavirus checkExternal link to see if they need a test.
Measures, effective?
Martin Ackermann, head of the Swiss Covid-19 scientific taskforce, said the Covid situation in hospitals was developing as predicted: the numbers of hospitalisations and intensive care patients were doubling each week. “Until now, the measures have not really helped so much,” he said, referring to the first set of measures outlined by the government on October 18, which included mask wearing in indoor public places.
The latest national measures, announced on Wednesday, which impose early closing time for bars and restaurants as well as extending mask wearing further, would need around two weeks to take effect, he warned. Ackermann underlined that hospitals would also be overwhelmed in the meantime.
Canton Zurich already warned on Friday that its hospitals would “soon be very strained”.
Masserey also said it was too early to see the effects of the first national measures, as it was only 12 days since they were introduced.
How we behave now will affect the figures in late November and December, explained Ackermann.
Bern cantonal doctor Linda Nartey also warned against going door to door for trick or treating at Halloween.
The government on Friday issued a video messageExternal link in German, French and Italian calling on the population to work together against the virus.
Cantons continue to tighten
Under the Swiss federal system, cantons are still allowed to introduce tighter Covid measures than the national ones.
Several cantons did just that on Friday. Jura (which has imposed a cantonal state of emergency) and Neuchâtel have stopped meetings of more than five people. Several cantons extended compulsory mask wearing to pupils in secondary I (age 12-15), going further than the national regulation of pupils aged 15-16 plus (secondary II).
Meanwhile, old people’s homes in canton Basel Country are to conduct their own corona tests – a first in Switzerland.
More
More
Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
This content was published on
An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Economist warns Trump tariffs could cost Switzerland CHF17.5 bn
This content was published on
An escalating tariff dispute under Donald Trump's US administration could cost the Swiss economy up to CHF17.5 billion ($22 billion) in 2026, according to KOF economist Jan-Egbert Sturm.
Swiss town rejects surveillance cameras at train station
This content was published on
Vevey does not want the station area to be monitored by cameras. In a vote held on Sunday, the population rejected a plan to install 44 cameras in the area in order to combat street dealing.
Palestine demo broken up at Israel-Switzerland basketball match
This content was published on
Around 150 pro-Palestine activists tried to force their way into Switzerland's match against Israel at the U-19 World Cup in Lausanne.
Swiss foreign minister: ‘EU was only given what was necessary’
This content was published on
After negotiating hard on the package deal with the European Union and finding a balance, Switzerland gave the EU only what was needed, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on Saturday.
Passenger dies in helicopter crash on Swiss glacier
This content was published on
A helicopter crashed in the Fusshörner region on the Oberaletsch Glacier in canton Valais on Saturday afternoon. The passenger in the helicopter, which was carrying three people, died.
Abbot of Saint-Maurice steps down following sex abuse report
This content was published on
Jean Scarcella has decided to step down as Abbot of Saint-Maurice in the Swiss canton of Valais, the abbey announced on Saturday.
Philipp Matthias Bregy named new president of Centre Party
This content was published on
Valais National Councillor Philipp Matthias Bregy is the new President of the Centre Party. The delegates elected him as the successor to Gerhard Pfister on Saturday in Bern without discussion.
Global call for active neutrality launched from Geneva
This content was published on
A number of players have launched a worldwide appeal for active neutrality in Geneva at a time when the major powers are taking a tougher line. The city is competing with Vienna to attract an international congress on this issue in 2026.
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
Media dub new Covid-19 measures a last wake-up call
This content was published on
Newspapers react to the latest measures to tackle the virus in Switzerland, which is now one of the hardest-hit countries in Europe.
Switzerland imposes early closing time for bars and restaurants
This content was published on
The government is also extending a mask-wearing obligation as part of new wide-ranging measures to fight the second wave of Covid-19.
Intensive care staff exhausted as Covid numbers rise
This content was published on
Intensive care workers are going into the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic exhausted, the Swiss Society of Intensive Care Medicine has warned.
Switzerland imposes mask-wearing in indoor public spaces
This content was published on
New measures, including limiting spontaneous public gatherings to 15 people, come into force across the country on Monday.
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.