While we were spoiled by the sun throughout September, autumn is finally arriving in Switzerland. Now that the weather is getting colder and there are one or two sick employees, you ask yourself again: what about Corona?
The most important questions and answers:
Since the beginning of this year, corona tests are no longer covered by the federal government. If you still want to be tested, you must pay for it yourself. The figures published on the website of the Federal Office for Public Health (BAG) are therefore of only limited significance.
A total of 1,285 corona cases were reported to the BAG between October 10 and 17. According to the BAG dashboard, the virus variant XBB is 100 percent responsible for this.
The focus is currently on two variants: EG.5, also known as Eris, and BA.2.86, known as Pirola.
The EG.5 lineage has been known to the World Health Organization (WHO) since February 2023 and was classified as a ‘virus variant under surveillance’ in mid-July. Due to its rapid spread, the variant was upgraded to ‘variant of interest’ on August 7. As researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen, Germany, have discovered, Eris can spread quickly because it can escape neutralizing antibodies better than other variants.
The variant BA.2.86 – known as Pirola – is also currently being discussed. This mutation is derived from the omicron subline BA.2 and was first detected in Denmark at the end of July and also in the United Kingdom at the end of August. At the beginning of October, the BAG wrote that Pirola’s share in Switzerland was very low.
Eris is not listed separately in the dashboard, but is simply assigned to the variant XBB from which it descends. Pirola is now a descendant of the older BA.2 variant. It is also not listed separately in the dashboard, but according to BAG data it does not take into account current cases – according to the dashboard, all cases can be attributed to the XBB line.
However, the BAG refers to the wastewater data, where the virus variants are more accurately represented. The advantage of this data: No test result is required; the viral load is determined via the wastewater. The figures in Zurich show that Eris is responsible for 45.86 percent of the detected viral load on September 30. While the remaining share can be attributed to other XBB variants, the Pirola variant has an estimated share of 3.07 percent.
Similar figures can be seen in wastewater treatment plants in other cantons: Eris dominates, while Pirola nowhere has a higher share than 3.07 percent.
If you have been fully vaccinated against Corona or have had an illness, you have antibodies that can respond to the Coronavirus. But Eris’ ability to partially escape neutralization by antibodies also means that the Covid-19 vaccination works less well than with previous variants such as Alpha or Delta, the international vaccination alliance Gavi wrote in August. According to Gavi, the vaccination would not have been free:
If you want to stay on the safe side, you can rely on Moderna: Swissmedic approved an adapted corona vaccine from the biotechnology company at the end of September. This should work better than its predecessors against Eris and Pirola.
If you have any self-tests from last winter season, you can still use them, provided they have not yet expired. Provided they are stored properly (dry, between 5 and 30 degrees), they can still be used without any problems until the expiry date has passed. Swissmedic recommends that you no longer use expired self-tests.
As the BAG wrote at Watson’s request, they had no evidence that the reliability of the self-tests differed depending on the virus variant. Swissmedic also assumes that the self-tests still work reliably. This is what studies from the US suggest. Most rapid tests focus on the nucleocapsid proteins (N proteins) of the coronavirus, which mutate less quickly than the spike proteins.
Ultimately, it is the test manufacturers who are responsible for the performance of their medical device. As Swissmedic writes, manufacturers are obliged to monitor the mutations and the performance of their test. If self-tests can no longer detect certain variants, it is up to the manufacturer to report this.
Both Swissmedic and the BAG point out that false negative results in self-tests are still possible. This means that the test shows a negative result despite corona. This can occur both with incorrect use and with a low viral load. If you want to be sure, you can still have a PCR test done (at your own expense).
As the BAG writes, self-tests can serve as additional protection, for example if someone is in contact with people who are at extra risk. However, they are only useful if, for example, after a positive test result, measures are taken to help prevent infections. The BAG emphasizes once again on this point: “A negative result does not rule out infection.”
Therefore, as for all respiratory infections (i.e. Covid-19, flu-like infections and simple colds): If you have cold symptoms, you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. If this is not possible, the BAG recommends wearing a face mask and keeping your distance.
The BAG expects an increase in the number of respiratory infections, including the coronavirus, next winter, but is not really concerned about this. It writes:
source: watson
I’m Maxine Reitz, a journalist and news writer at 24 Instant News. I specialize in health-related topics and have written hundreds of articles on the subject. My work has been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Healthline. As an experienced professional in the industry, I have consistently demonstrated an ability to develop compelling stories that engage readers.
