The burden of COVID-19 on the Swiss healthcare system is decreasing, but monitoring of infectious viruses is still necessary as other respiratory diseases circulate with greater intensity, according to an official scientific group.
This content was published on January 24, 2023 – 11:10
Keystone-SDA/sb
Currently, 98% of the Swiss population have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 either from the vaccine or from contracting the disease. But since the lifting of anti-COVID restrictions last April, other viruses have taken over, including “human respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, pneumococcal diseases and group A streptococci,” the COVID scientific advisory panel said. -19.
“The situation in hospitals is currently far removed from what it was during the acute phase of the pandemic,” the agency said in a statement issued on Monday.
The number of new hospitalizations for COVID-19 has decreased since early December 2022. Intensive care units are not experiencing an extraordinary patient load with COVID-19-related pneumonia. Less than 5% of available intensive care beds are occupied by patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, he pointed out.
However, hospital emergency units, general wards, and pediatric clinics are reporting large numbers of patients due to high circulation of other respiratory pathogens and continued staff shortages.
surveillance network
Due to the current situation, the scientific body urges the authorities to examine the monitoring of infectious diseases throughout the country. It underlines the importance of maintaining real-time monitoring of new infections or changes in the immunity of the population.
“Due to the fact that the health care system remains under great pressure and there is constant uncertainty regarding the spread of the infection, now is the right time to review which methods and tools Switzerland should use to monitor infectious diseases in the future.” , the panel recommended.
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