The corona virus spreads in Switzerland. The number of confirmed cases is constantly increasing, most recently it was 15. This prompted the Federal Council to declare the “special situation” according to the Epidemic Act and to cancel major events for 1,000 people or more.
There is great uncertainty among the population. Emergency centers in various hospitals are experiencing an increased influx. «Many people come to us with fears. We increased the staff, »said Adrian Grob, spokesman for the Bernese Island Group at a media conference. You don’t have to be afraid. “Nevertheless, we advise and examine every single person.” The Inselspital Bern even set up an examination path outside the emergency ward so that treatments can be prioritized.
At the University Hospital Zurich, it is said on request that more people who wanted to be tested for the corona virus have come into an emergency again in the past few days. “This leads to a lot of effort in an emergency and ties up resources.”
«Significantly more people in an emergency»
In the canton of Graubünden, where there are currently two confirmed coronavirus cases, the cantonal hospital is seeing more operations in the emergency room. “The corona virus means that we have significantly more calls and people who come by in an emergency,” says Dajan Roman, Head of Communication at the Cantonal Hospital in Graubünden. There were also people among them who were worried that they might have been infected.
“The hospital has an internal task force that meets every day and then looks at what measures need to be taken.” For example, in an emergency there is now a separate zone where you can smear for the test. And of course the staff will also be increased, shifts expanded and adjusted so that more people would be available.
Hygiene masks and safety glasses
The Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) has listed detailed recommendations for dealing with suspected cases for medical practices and hospitals on its website. The federal government advises people who have symptoms to call a doctor urgently first and not to go to an emergency room.
If suspicious cases nevertheless appear in medical practices, the BAG recommends that people put on a hygiene mask and isolate them. The staff should wear an FFP-2 mask and safety glasses. After that, the further course of action can be determined with the cantonal doctor. Then the room had to be completely disinfected.
In addition to the emergency rooms, there is also a rush to the Hotline of the Federal Office of Public Health. “Waiting times of five to ten minutes or sometimes a little longer are unfortunately not currently ruled out,” says the operating company Medgate. Targeted measures are being taken to further reduce the waiting time.
Hotline overloaded
The Company Eedoctors therefore senses their chance and offers a “free doctor chat or the possibility of a video consultation with Swiss doctors”. “We are able to provide qualified advice and support in the ‘management’ of the concerned and concerned citizens,” said a spokeswoman. Of course, you can also make the appropriate clinical assessment and initiate treatments and make recommendations for treatment and behavior.
How does the federal hotline operator assess such competitive offers? “We have the official order from the Federal Office of Public Health for the operation of the Corona hotline, are in constant contact with the BAG and therefore have the most up-to-date information at first hand,” emphasizes Medgate. In such situations, it is important that communication to the population is up-to-date, uniform and correct. “This approach has proven very effective in other similar situations in this constellation over the past 15 years.”
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(Pam / dk)
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