New cases in Switzerland increased by 30% this week
This week, 10,148 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, 30% more than the week before. On a moving 7-day average, the number of new cases a day was 1,450.
The number hospitalized with Covid-19 has been stable. 119 Covid-19 patients with Covid-19 were hospitalized in the last 7 days, compared to 150 in the previous 7 days. This week, Covid-19 deaths had risen. 31 deaths were recorded in the last 7 days compared to 28 in the previous 7 days.
This week, Patrick Mathys, Head of Vaccinations in Switzerland, described the current epidemiological situation as unfavorable. Tanja Stadler, head of the Covid-19 scientific task force, warned that the number of cases could double with the onset of winter. 1.6 million people in Switzerland remain without immunity, she said.
Unvaccinated continued to make up the majority of those hospitalized and dying of Covid-19 this week, although they made up a relatively small percentage of those at risk of serious illness – 87% of those over 70 have now been vaccinated. In the last 7 days, 41 of 119 (34%) people who were hospitalized with Covid-19 in Switzerland were recorded as fully vaccinated. One reason vaccinated people end up in hospital is because vaccine protection has waned in older age groups who were previously vaccinated and who have less responsive immune systems. This week, Swissmedic approved the third dose of vaccine for the most vulnerable people.
The vaccination rate in Switzerland has barely increased since last week, increasing by 0.38% from 65.51% to 65.89% of the population with at least one vaccination. In one Poll published by RTS 22.5% of those questioned said that they did not get vaccinated.
Vaccine resistance is visible on the streets of Switzerland. A peaceful authorized protest took place in Bern last weekend, which will likely be the last in town before a vote on government laws to deal with the pandemic on November 28, 2021.
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