Covid-19 situation remains stable but tense, say Swiss officials

2020-11-24 02:41:06

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(MENAFN- Swissinfo) Health officials in Switzerland report that while overall figures are improving, some intensive care units are still under pressure. A vaccine will not arrive before 2021, they say.

This content was published on November 24, 2020 - 17:23 November 24, 2020 - 17:23 Keystone-SDA/dos

Virginie Masserey of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) told journalists in Bern on Tuesday that a vaccine would likely not be available before the first half of next year.

Authorities are discussing plans as to how to distribute and rollout a vaccine – which would first need to be approved – but that no further details were currently available, she said.

Switzerland recorded 4,241 new positive Covid-19 cases on Tuesday – a clear downward trend compared to a fortnight ago, when the country was recording cases numbers above 8,000 per day.

Some 142 new deaths were also recorded. Masserey said that the death rate compared to the number of cases in Switzerland was rather low in comparison with other nations – which she said testifies to the quality of care in the country.

However, although the situation in intensive care units is starting to stabilise, things remain tense in some regions, she added. Coronavirus patients occupy 60% of ICU beds, with 260 places still free across the country.

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