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The autumn weekend has arrived; months late. In recent years, autumn has become synonymous with a rise in the number of coronavirus cases, calls for vaccination and public transport passengers wearing masks more often again. What about this fall? The federal government recommends vaccination only for people over 65 and those who are particularly at risk. Those who wear masks are the absolute exception on public transport. Can we now completely ignore the coronavirus? Blick asked Tanja Stadler, 42, a biostatistician at ETH Zurich and former head of the Covid task force, for a perspective on the cold season. We meet via video call, as during the pandemic, but for purely practical reasons.
Ms. Stadler, we are hearing more and more about corona infections in the region. Is this a coincidence, or are you discovering this too?
Tanja Stadler: As wastewater measurements at 15 different locations in Switzerland show, virus circulation has increased again since the end of the summer holidays. I predict that circulation will increase again during the winter months because immunity in the population has decreased and we again spend more time indoors.
Should we be worried about this?
For people who do not belong to the risk group, the acute consequences of the infection are usually not dangerous. But we still know little about its long-term consequences. For example, how often post-Covid symptoms occur after a repeat infection. Older people or those with compromised immune systems remain at increased risk of serious disease, especially if vaccination is not increased.
So shouldn’t we expect a new stress test for hospitals?
I definitely do not expect there to be as serious cases as in the fall of 2020. However, our hospitals are generally under pressure during the winter months, and this was the case before the pandemic. RSV, influenza, and other respiratory viruses circulate. There is now another virus, SARS-CoV-2, that will place additional demands on hospitals each year during the winter months.
Mathematician and biostatistician Tanja Stadler (42) is professor of computational evolution at ETH Zurich. He led the federal government’s scientific Coronavirus task force until it was disbanded in the spring of 2022. She is currently the chair of the Covid-19 Scientific Advisory Board, the task force’s successor organization. The German-born woman lives in Basel and is a mother of two children.
Mathematician and biostatistician Tanja Stadler (42) is professor of computational evolution at ETH Zurich. He led the federal government’s scientific Coronavirus task force until it was disbanded in the spring of 2022. She is currently the chair of the Covid-19 Scientific Advisory Board, the task force’s successor organization. The German-born woman lives in Basel and is a mother of two children.
Does this mean our hospitals are not adequately prepared?
Yes, but our system is designed so that sometimes things can get stuck in the winter. We do not always have a healthcare system that leaves much room for improvement; This would be very expensive. But the important thing is that intensive care units will no longer be attacked unless a completely new, game-changing virus variant emerges.
Speaking of variants: BA.2.86, also known as Pirola, made headlines in late summer. It was later revealed that this variant did not cause more serious cases. Why are we so obsessed with looking for new coronavirus variants?
SARS-CoV-2 is still a relatively new virus. This also means that things are developing rapidly. The latest BA.2.86 variant caused a stir in science because the leap in development was as large as delta to omicron. There were fears that this variant could spread very quickly. But recent studies reveal everything clearly. Meanwhile, we are also constantly looking for new variants of the flu. This means, among other things, that the flu vaccine is adapted accordingly.
If you had a choice, would you rather catch the flu or the coronavirus?
Preferably none! However, thanks to the vaccine, we actually managed to reduce the danger of coronavirus. SARS-CoV-2 and influenza are now comparable, at least in terms of acute infection. We know less about the long-term consequences of Covid.
If you get sick, is it still worth getting a corona test?
For people at risk of serious disease: Yes. Because early treatment can alleviate the course of the disease. Everyone else doesn’t necessarily need to test themselves. But this remains true: If you have symptoms, stay home! It doesn’t matter if you have Covid, flu or any other virus. If you need to go out, you should wear a FFP2 mask.
Are there other situations where you continue to wear a mask?
Yes, if the indoor space is very crowded and not ventilated. I was just on public transport, it was packed and there was coughing and sniffing everywhere. I wore a mask to protect myself. I also wear a mask when in contact with vulnerable people. I may have been infected with a virus asymptomatically (i.e. without knowing it) and I do not want to pass it on to others. Now I always carry a mask, tissue or cell phone in my bag.
Source :Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
