Health, 20.03.2020

Current situation in Switzerland

Corona virus COVID-19: Daily report from the Federal Office of Public Health

Confirmed in Switzerland

20.3.2020, 12 pm:

Number of cases
Tested positive: about 4840
Confirmed: 4176

Number who have died: 43

The top priority for the Swiss Federal Council is the health of the public

The aim should be to make sure that people are better protected from the novel coronavirus, especially those who are at a higher risk of becoming severely ill. We can all help by following the recommendations (both the new ones and those issued previously):

  • Keep your distance – for example: Protect elderly people by keeping adequate distance from them; Keep your distance when queuing or waiting in line; Keep your distance at meetings.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly.
  • Avoid shaking hands.
  • Cough and sneeze into a tissue or the crook of your arm.
  • If you have a fever and are coughing, stay at home.
  • Only go to the doctor or A&E once you have notified them by phone.

You will find detailed information on the “Protect yourself and others” site or at www.foph-coronavirus.

 

A statue of the well-known cartoon character Titeuf, created by Geneva artist Zep, wearing a
mask outside the Jacques Dalphin school in Geneva, on March 19

 

Current situation – International

As of 20 March 2020, 6.30am:

Cases of new coronavirus infections have been confirmed in more than 150 countries or regions.

More than 41,000 cases of new coronavirus have been confirmed in Italy. Of those, 3,405 people are known to have died. For Italy as for all other areas concerned, travellers should inform themselves about the local situation.

Globally over 244,000 people are confirmed to have been infected with the new coronavirus. 10,030 people are known to have died.

Totally more than 86,000 people have been recovered again.

In the majority of cases the illness is mild. However, people aged over 65 and those with an existing pre-illnesscould become seriously ill.

Affected areas: why is reference no longer being made to ‘affected areas’?

There is now a risk of becoming infected with new coronavirus in almost all parts of the world. As of 9 March we will therefore no longer be referring to ‘affected areas’.

 

 Federal Office of Public Health FOPH

Communicable Diseases Division
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
3003 Berne
Switzerland
Tel. +41 58 463 00 00