The Canton of St.Gallen informed media on Friday about the current situation regarding the Corona virus. The population asked questions via Facebook.
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The media conference in the St.Gallen Pfalzkeller.
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the essentials in brief
- The number of confirmed corona cases in Switzerland is increasing.
- The Federal Council decided on Friday morning to ban all public and private events in which more than 1,000 people are present at the same time. This ban applies immediately until at least March 15th. The cantons are responsible for enforcement.
- For events in which less than 1,000 people take part, the organizers must weigh up the risks together with the responsible cantonal authorities.
- As of Friday afternoon, there was no confirmed case in the canton of St.Gallen. 43 suspected cases were reported, 18 tests are still ongoing.
The corona virus has arrived in Switzerland. And it is only a matter of time before there is the first confirmed case in the canton of St.Gallen. This is what chief physician Pietro Vernazza says on Friday afternoon at the media conference of the canton of St.Gallen. The specialist is convinced that the spread of the virus can no longer be prevented globally. But: you could delay it. This gives doctors and hospitals time. Time to take measures, time to develop forms of therapy, time to achieve immunity for the population.
However, panic is not appropriate because all participants in the media conference agree. Government councilor and health chief Heidi Hanselmann advises to respect the situation, but not to panic. “The canton of St.Gallen is prepared.”
The federal ban on events imposed on Friday is welcomed at the media conference. This is another measure that saves time. If you are unsure in the canton of St.Gallen whether you can or should hold an event, you can contact the cantonal medical office. This defines the criteria.
The most important measure, however, is hygiene. Again and again the specialists present point out that in the current situation it is essential to comply with the hygiene rules. That means: washing your hands regularly, sneezing in your elbows, not touching your face, not coughing at others, keeping your distance from the sick and staying at home if you feel unwell.
The live ticker for reading
4:54 p.m.
The media conference has ended. With this we also end our live coverage from the Pfalzkeller. You can find everything else about the Corona virus and developments at tagblatt.ch. Thank you for your attention and remember: wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!
4:50 p.m.
No confirmed case in the canton of St.Gallen
Hanselmann once again mentions that there is currently no confirmed case in the canton of St.Gallen. If the confirmation is available, the public will be informed immediately. Currently 18 tests are still running, there are 43 suspected cases in the canton of St.Gallen. Information is provided on the canton’s website.
4:49 p.m.
A question about working in open-plan offices: how should you behave there? The answer again: wash your hands! And keep at least one meter away from work colleagues.
4:48 p.m.
How are the ventilation places ensured? “It’s always an issue,” says Schlegel. There is no need to worry that you have alternative options.
4:43 p.m.
Cantonal doctor Danuta Reinholz says that the proportionality of the measures should not be forgotten. Everyday life should not stand still.
4:41 pm
Respect for the situation, but don’t panic
Are there recommendations for closing shopping centers or public transport? Hanselmann points out that there is a risk of infection if you are near a sick person for more than 15 minutes. «We walk past each other at the train station. There is no such problem. » On the train, be careful not to cough at each other, to sneeze in the elbows. «Respect for the situation is the order of the day, but don’t panic. »
4:40 p.m.
School theme. Should children go to school anyway? “Yes,” says Vernazza. “The disease will affect us all. We are all infected. » You couldn’t prevent it, just slow it down. Vernazza pleads for common sense.
4:37 pm
A question from the Facebook community. How vulnerable are children with poor immune systems? Danuta Reinholz again points to the low mortality rate in children. Vernazza understands the concern. He says: “Children seem to be at great risk of infection, but they are underrepresented in the group of sick people. It affects children, but they put up with it. I would have no concerns about children. »
4:34 pm
Now the question and answer session starts in the Pfalzkeller. “Should HSG students avoid lectures?” Is asked. Hanselmann: «We are in direct contact with the HSG. There is currently no reason to cancel lectures. » But: The hygiene measures must also apply at the university.
4:33 p.m.
Is there an increased risk for other patients in the hospital if Corona patients are hospitalized? “It is our job to prevent this,” says Schlegel. Corona patients are isolated, which is nothing new for the cantonal hospital. If there are many sick people, the main problem is outside the hospital. Most people would get infected there.
4:31 p.m.
Schlegel also welcomes the federal measures. That would delay the spread of the disease.
4:29 pm
The cantonal hospital had already prepared for the Corona virus last year. Matthias Schlegel is happy that there is a change of strategy. «There will be an epidemic. Because nobody is immune, we have to assume that there are proportionally many patients with serious illnesses. »
4:25 pm
“We can no longer prevent the spread”
Suppose a family doctor reports to the canton. What happens then? “It’s a difficult question at the moment,” says chief physician Vernazza. You are in a transition phase. Until now, one wanted to discover every single case – also to prevent further cases from occurring. Now switch over. “You have to recognize that global spread can no longer be prevented,” says Vernazza. The disease will reach 50, 60 or 70 percent of the population during a certain time, the doctor says. “This is how the population becomes immune.” The challenge is to slow the spread. This is possible with hygiene measures.
4:24 p.m.
How do doctors protect themselves from infection? “It is important that people do not just come into practice.” A home visit makes more sense.
4:21 pm
Family doctor Patrick Scheiwiler is not yet overrun in his practice. “At the moment we are fortunate to have no confirmed case in the canton.” In principle, when you call a patient, you try to find out whether the person was in a risk area. If so, the doctor contacts the canton and discusses how to proceed. The current strategy is to hospitalize and isolate such people.
4:19 pm
“Masks don’t help”
The president of the pharmacy association Claudia Meier has the floor: The week is a challenging one for the pharmacies. “Every second customer asks about disinfectants or protective masks.” Try to keep people fully informed. She also emphasizes that regular hand washing is the best protection. “Masks are useless.”
4:18 p.m.
Subject emergency stocks. Faisst assures that Switzerland will not come into a state of emergency. Hamster purchases are not necessary.
4:18 p.m.
Incidentally, the risk areas include northern Italy and China.
4:17 p.m.
Are you still allowed in restaurants? Should you still go out? Faisst finds this unproblematic. «We have no confirmed case. We don’t all have to stay at home. » As long as you are not in a risk area, the risk is practically non-existent. And: fresh air is good for the body.
4:15 p.m.
Should I buy a mask? Faisst says no: “The masks are for those who are ill, for those who care for the sick. Besides, masks don’t help. »
4:14 p.m.
Question to the head of hospital hygiene: What happens to the viruses when you sneeze in your elbows? «The viruses do not feel comfortable on such surfaces, the transmission is rather impossible. »Frequent washing of clothes certainly doesn’t hurt.
4:12 p.m.
Washing hands is the be-all and end-all
Karin Faisst heads the health care office. What exactly do you have to do to protect yourself? The answer: «Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. And thoroughly. » The BAG has launched an information campaign for this. “Use a paper towel when sneezing and quickly throw it in the wastebasket,” advises Faisst. Those who feel bad should stay at home.
4:11 p.m.
Reinholz and her team are in close contact with the Federal Office of Public Health. The cantonal authority is trying to implement the guidelines. One is also in contact with the general practitioners, there is an information letter about the cantonal approach.
4:10 p.m.
What is the situation like in babies and toddlers? The mortality rate in people under 50 is extremely low. To protect children, hygiene is the be-all and end-all. Washing hands should not only be shown to the children, but also exemplified.
4:09 p.m.
How can you protect your grandparents? Asks Zuberbühler. “It is best that such people stay at home and withdraw from the general public,” says Reinholz. The same applies to people who have cancer, for example.
4:07 pm
A question for Cantonal doctor Danuta Reinholz: How dangerous is the virus really? The top doctor in the canton of St.Gallen points out that only rough statements can be made. The risk of infection is moderate, somewhat higher than that of the flu but lower than that of measles. The mortality rate increased from the age of 60 and was slightly above the seasonal flu. Children are practically not at risk. The risk group includes older people or people with previous illnesses.
4:06 pm
Moderator Thomas Zuberbühler wants to know what priority the fight against the virus has for the government. “We prepared for it weeks ago in the canton of St.Gallen,” says Hanselmann. It is important that the risk of infection is minimized and the risk is reduced.
4:04 pm
Hanselmann regrets that events have to be canceled. “This has to do not only with emotions, but also with economy.” Those who are not sure whether they can hold an event should contact the cantonal medical office. No permits are distributed, but criteria are passed on.
4:03 pm
An event that counts among 1,000 visitors should only be held if no people from risk regions take part in it. If people are unloaded from risk regions, the events may take place.
4:01 p.m.
Heidi Hanselmann was in Bern this morning for the coordination. She speaks about the federal ban on events. The 1000 limit is a number at which one can trace the contagion limit. “That’s the reason why you got this number.” The canton of St.Gallen is in the process of developing a regulation. This will be published this afternoon and published on the website. «That is the state today. We have to compare what this looks like in two or three days with the current observations. »
3:59 p.m.
The media conference has opened. General practitioner Patrick Scheiwiler, Karin Faisst, Head of the Office for Health Care, Cantonal Doctor Danuta Reinholz, President of the District Heidi Hanselmann, Claudia Meier, President of the Pharmacy Association, Chief Physician Pietro Vernazza and Matthias Schlegel, Head of Hospital Hygiene at the St.Gallen Cantonal Hospital talk.
3:56 p.m.
It’s about to start. Several media representatives are present.
3:55 pm
Only press representatives may attend the on-site media conference. The population can still be there – and ask questions. On the Facebook site in the canton, the media conference is streamed live. You can ask questions in the comment column.
3:50 p.m.
Hello and welcome to the live ticker about the press conference of the canton of St.Gallen. The government officials, the medical profession and the hospitals provide information about the current situation regarding the corona virus. Linda Müntener reports for you from the Pfalzkeller.
How you can participate
The corona virus has reached Switzerland. The canton of St.Gallen invites media professionals to a question hour on Friday at 4 p.m.
How does a family doctor check whether someone is infected? How do hospitals prepare for potential patients? How does the cantonal medical office support the medical profession and the hospitals? And how does the government coordinate the arrangements with the Federal Council? The canton, the medical profession and the hospitals want to answer questions like these at a joint information event.
The information event is streamed via the Facebook channel of the canton of St.Gallen so that the population can enter their questions live. The adress is: www.facebook.com/kantonsg, You don’t need a Facebook account just to watch, but if you want to ask questions, you have to register with the social network. The questions can be typed into the comment column during the livestream, so that they are visible to everyone.
Heidi Hanselmann, member of the government and health chief, Danuta Reinholz, cantonal doctor, Karin Faisst, head of the health care office, Dr. med. Patrick Scheiwiler, general practitioner “praxisarnegg” and representative of the Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen. According to the announcement, participation on site is only open to media professionals.
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