Canton chief doctor at the start of the virus season: “This is the right time to wear a mask”

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It’s getting colder outside again. And inside there is so much coughing that the walls are shaking. Colds, flu and corona are increasing. Top canton doctor Rudolf Hauri (63) explains in a Blick interview why wearing a mask is now worthwhile again.

Blick: Mr. Hauri, when you travel by bus and train, you cough more again. Should we be concerned about this?
Rudolf Hauri: The number of respiratory infections is even increasing again. This mainly affects rhinoviruses, which are responsible for colds and runny noses. But Corona and flu are also emerging again. This development was expected given the cooler season. In this respect the increase is normal.

However, when it comes to corona cases, the curve clearly points upwards. Are we heading for a new Corona wave?
The corona figures will probably rise even further in the coming weeks. It’s the start of a small wave. It is not yet possible to say whether this will develop into a larger wave.

And if so, is there a risk that hospitals will become overloaded again, as was the case at the beginning of the pandemic?
We hear from hospitals that more and more people are being admitted to hospital with or because of Corona. There have also been cases again in intensive care units, but these are usually people with relevant previous illnesses. However, there are no signs of overload. The variants currently in circulation do not play such a role that we should worry. We currently have the situation under control.

Can we safely leave the mask aside?
There is no official advice to wear a mask. As a doctor, I can recommend it to anyone who wants to protect themselves and others. Now is the right time to wear a mask. Wearing a face mask is not only worthwhile because of Corona, but also because of flu and colds. Now, at the beginning of the virus season, the mask still has the best effect. If the general public is infected, it is of less use. Personally, I recommend wearing a mask indoors and in gatherings of people if you want to protect yourself and others. In any case, I always have a face mask with me.

Does vaccination also make sense?
We recommend both corona and flu vaccinations to all seniors and risk groups with chronic diseases. We notice that demand is picking up again. By the way, November 10 is National Flu Vaccination Day, so you can easily get vaccinated in many places. I would like to recommend this to those affected.

Source:Blick