Despite the decline in the number of corona cases: hospitals increasingly require face masks

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Now Swiss hospitals are changing their strategy. They are now introducing a widespread mask requirement, even outside the corona pandemic. The reason: many people are currently suffering from respiratory diseases.

Although the Corona wave is slowly decreasing in Switzerland, the flu wave has started. Influenza viruses are currently more commonly found in Swiss wastewater than Sars-CoV-2.

Paradigm shift in the healthcare landscape

In response, Swiss hospitals, including the university hospitals of Basel and Zurich and the cantonal hospital of Aarau, have introduced a mask requirement that also applies to people without cold or flu symptoms. This marks a paradigm shift in the Swiss healthcare landscape, according to a report in CH Media newspapers.

“As far as we know, this had never happened before the corona pandemic,” said Simon Ming of the Federal Office of Public Health in the report.

This measure is not only intended to protect patients from each other, but also to protect healthcare staff against absenteeism due to corona or flu. The decision on whether to wear a mask or not is the responsibility of the individual cantons. For example, there is currently no general mask requirement in the St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital.

Switzerland is not yet in an emergency situation

Unlike other countries, Switzerland is not currently in an emergency situation. In Spain, for example, the current flu epidemic is pushing healthcare systems to their limits. Operations already have to be postponed to ensure sufficient beds for flu and Covid patients. Health Minister Mónica García (50) has reintroduced a general mask requirement in all hospitals in the country.

However, according to CH Media, a national mandatory face mask requirement on public transport is currently not considered likely. Unless a particularly dangerous virus emerges that also threatens the local healthcare system. (oco)

Source:Blick