Coronavirus research is now being carried out at the University of Geneva. The work required for this has been technically upgraded accordingly. Thomas Binz from the Federal Office of Public Health is hardly convinced that a Swiss laboratory can ever pose a health risk to the population.

SRF News: How safe are Swiss laboratories like the one at the University of Geneva?

Thomas Binz: We assume that the laboratories are safe. The legal requirements are high – and there is a control system with the cantonal departments.

How is safety controlled in the laboratories?

The work must adhere to a whole list of measures. This includes, for example, that they have a biosafety workbench for certain activities, a vacuum laboratory for others or that the exhaust air has to be filtered. The authorities regularly check these measures. If they are not adhered to, the canton can close a laboratory in extreme cases.

In extreme cases, the authorities can close a laboratory.

The new Geneva laboratory meets the second highest security level 3.

Are you sure that nothing can leak out?

Yes. Because the measures are adapted to the risk potential of the living beings in question. If, for example, the Ebola virus is dealt with in Spiez, then the highest security level applies. If SarsCov-2 is used in Geneva, level three applies – the second highest level.

Only authorized personnel have access to the laboratory.

Specifically, the laboratory in Geneva – there is constant negative pressure – can only be entered through a security gate, only authorized personnel have access to the laboratory and the exhaust air from the laboratory is cleaned with a highly efficient particle filter so that no outside can penetrate. According to the danger posed by a research object, the researchers are also protected by appropriate clothing and possibly breathing apparatus.

Nevertheless, there are always laboratory accidents that have to be reported to the authorities. Can you count on them to actually be reported?

The laboratories are obliged to report if living beings have escaped. If this is not the case, there is no need to report it to the authorities.

Is it also possible that many more laboratory accidents happen than are actually reported?

It is quite possible that an incident occurs in a laboratory that is not reported to the authorities because it has no consequences, including no living beings. Because there was no risk, it is not serious that such an incident is not reported.

Do you also rule out in principle that these laboratories could endanger health?

Due to the measures taken, the reporting system and the regular controls, I rule that out to a very high degree.

Interview conducted by Sandro della Torre.