by © Aquanaut4 | Dreamstime.com Lombardy, the region in northern Italy where the coronavirus outbreak first took off in Europe, now has fewer per capita cases testing positive for the virus than some Swiss cantons. Recent data from Italy show there were 179 cases per 100,000 in Lombardy. In Ticino, Switzerland’s worst affected canton, there were 329 cases per ...
Topics:
Investec considers the following as important: 3) Swiss Markets and News, 3.) Health, Coronavirus Switzerland, Covid-19 Switzerland, Editor's Choice, Featured, health, newsletter
This could be interesting, too:
Frank Shostak writes Could an Increase in the Supply of Gold Cause a Boom-Bust Cycle?
Swissinfo writes How the poorest country in Europe is integrating 120,000 Ukrainian refugees
Vibhu Vikramaditya writes Liberty Squandered: The English Tradition from Magna Carta to Empire
Mark Thornton writes Gold Is the Answer to Prohibition
© Aquanaut4 | Dreamstime.com
Lombardy, the region in northern Italy where the coronavirus outbreak first took off in Europe, now has fewer per capita cases testing positive for the virus than some Swiss cantons.
Recent data from Italy show there were 179 cases per 100,000 in Lombardy. In Ticino, Switzerland’s worst affected canton, there were 329 cases per 100,000. Geneva (231) and Vaud (211) had Switzerland’s next highest rates. In percentage terms Ticino (+84%), Geneva (+29%) and Vaud (+18%) all had more cases per capita than Lombardy.
Across Switzerland, the death rate so far, based on the number of deaths and recoveries to date, has dropped significantly. At midday on 23 March 2020 there were 107 deaths and 131 recoveries, a death rate of 45%. Two days ago the figure was 79%.
The current Swiss rate, based on the number of deaths and recoveries to date, is similar to Italy’s (44%) where there have been 5,476 deaths and 7,024 recoveries so far. Why these rates are so high compared to some Asian countries in unclear. Currently, the same rates in China (4%), South Korea (3%), Japan (15%), Hong Kong (4%) and Singapore (1%) are far lower. One theory is that the number of positive tested cases in these countries is closer to the real number of infections, while in Europe positive tested cases are the tip of a large iceberg of actual infections. There are likely to be other reasons too, such as demographic and healthcare differences. But right now we don’t know.
There are still sufficient intensive care places (ICU) for serious cases in Vaud and Geneva. At the Chuv hospital in Vaud there were 13 patients in ICU and at the HUG hospital in Geneva there were 41. The Chuv has 70 places and both hospitals could increase the number of ICU beds by 100, according to a recent report by RTS.
You Might Also Like
Coronavirus: youngest death so far brings Swiss death toll to four
The coronavirus has claimed its fourth victim in Switzerland. A 54 year old man died yesterday in Binningen hospital in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
Coronavirus: too late to close Swiss borders
Switzerland’s government and health officials presented a coronavirus update yesterday. Key elements of the presentation are set out below. The full coronavirus press update can be viewed above in German.
Coronavirus: an estimate of the real number of infections in Switzerland
Today, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), there were 815 confirmed cases in Switzerland. There are obvious challenges to this figure. Possibly the most important is the time lag between infection and a confirmed case.
Coronavirus: Swiss hospitals have around 750 breathing ventilators
One of the biggest challenges during the coronavirus outbreak will be ensuring there are enough qualified staff and equipment to keep the worst affected patients alive. Thierry Fumeaux, head of the Swiss Society of Intensive Medicine, told RTS there are 82 intensive care units (ICU) across Switzerland. These have a combined 850 places, of which 750 are equipped with breathing equipment. It is not clear how many of these places are currently available.
Swiss government announces further restrictions to slow spread of virus
At a press conference at 5pm on 16 March 2020, members of the Federal Council presented a list of further restrictions designed to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus, that will become active from midnight tonight. A video of the conference can be viewed below.
Is Ibuprofen dangerous for those infected with the coronavirus?
Ibuprofen belongs to a family of drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. On 14 March 2020, Olivier Véran, France’s health minister Tweeted that taking anti-inflammatory medicine “could be an aggravating factor” for those infected with Covid-19, and recommended paracetamol for those with a fever.
Coronavirus: estimating the death toll in Switzerland
COVID-19 has hit the world fast and we are racing to understand it, while struggling to come to terms with its deadly impact. When trying to estimate the impact, it is tempting to take the current number of deaths and divide it by the number of reported cases. However, the resulting percentage is meaningless.
Swiss government cuts drug prices by 100 million francs
Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) recently announced it had reduced the price Swiss healthcare providers and patients will pay for 257 drugs by 16.3%. These lower prices, which take affect on 1 December 2019, are expected to save CHF 100 million annually.
Tags: Coronavirus Switzerland,Covid-19 Switzerland,Editor's Choice,Featured,Health,newsletter