Data on confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and deaths due to the disease, the epidemiological situation, information about the tracing app, the search for antibodies, the advisory body, press conferences and news can all be found here.
Confirmed coronavirus infections, deaths, epidemiological situation
30.5.2020, 8 am, cases confirmed in Switzerland:
Tested positive for coronavirus: 30,845 people, 17 more than on the previous day
Deaths: 1,657 people
Situation report on the epidemiological situation in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein:
German (PDF, 733 kB, 30.05.2020)
French (PDF, 866 kB, 30.05.2020)
Italian (PDF, 739 kB, 30.05.2020)
Data from the situation report:
German (XLS, 19 kB, 30.05.2020)
French (XLS, 19 kB, 30.05.2020)
Italian (XLS, 19 kB, 30.05.2020)
The figures published here are based on notifications received early today from laboratories, medical practices and hospitals. They may therefore differ from those communicated by the cantons.
27.5.2020, Monitoring of suspected cases
Weekly report on reported suspected cases:
German (PDF, 179 kB, 27.05.2020)
French (PDF, 435 kB, 27.05.2020)
Italian (PDF, 175 kB, 27.05.2020)
Data are evaluated and published weekly. The data are based on the Sentinella reporting system: Between 150 and 250 general practitioners voluntarily report the number of patients with suspected cases of COVID-19.
7.5.2020, Interim report regarding the new coronavirus in Switzerland and in the Principality of Liechtenstein
COVID-19: Epidemiological interim report, dated 27 April 2020:
German (PDF, 1 MB, 07.05.2020)
French (PDF, 1 MB, 07.05.2020)
Italian (PDF, 1 MB, 07.05.2020)
The report sets out the general epidemiological situation and the impact of the measures taken by the government with regard to the new coronavirus. It is being released to coincide with the first phase of measures being eased.
Graphical representation of data
Below you can find links to charts.
The chart showing the development over time is based on the date on which cases were reported. This is generally the date on which the test was conducted. With regard to deaths, it is the date on which the person died. Figures relating to the last two or three days are provisional as there is sometimes a delay in reporting.
Evaluations are limited to data sets for which details regarding age, sex and the canton of residence are complete. Data from the Principality of Liechtenstein are excluded. This accounts for the difference in the figures shown in the charts and the figures published above.
The chart shows the geographical distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases over time.
You can download the basic data behind the charts here:
The graphic shows the geographical distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases over time.
Tracing chains of transmission (Contact Tracing)
Identifying persons who have been in contact with someone who has been infected is one of the most effective ways of combating epidemics. This involves tracing and breaking the chain of transmission, by isolating persons who have become ill and placing those who have been in close contact with infected persons in quarantine.
How does contact tracing work?
Contact tracing is detective work. The cantonal authorities are responsible for tracing chains of transmission. This is what they do:
When a person tests positive for the coronavirus:
- The cantonal authorities work with that person to ascertain who they have been in close contact with – in the 48 hours before the symptoms of the disease developed, up to the point at which they went into isolation.
- The authorities notify the persons identified that they may be infected.
- If these persons do not have any symptoms, they must spend ten days in quarantine. If they do not develop any symptoms during this period, they are allowed to leave quarantine.
When a person notified by the authorities already has symptoms of the disease:
- They must go into isolation. If they test positive for the virus, the authorities must also trace the persons they have been in close contact with.
When a person in quarantine develops symptoms of the disease:
- They must go into isolation immediately and get tested for the new coronavirus.
- If they test positive, the persons they have been in close contact with must be traced.
- Because the person is already in quarantine, they are unlikely to have been in close contact with many other people, if any at all. Quarantine has already broken the chain of transmission.
The public has complied with the measures, so tracing is possible again
As a result of the lockdown introduced by the Federal Council, and because people in Switzerland have followed the rules on hygiene and social distancing, the daily number of new infections has fallen. This means it is now possible to use contact tracing to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. A smartphone app (see next section) will also be made available to help contain the spread of the virus.
SwissCovid app to help break chains of infection
The SwissCovid app for smartphones (iOS/Android) will contribute to containing the spread of the new coronavirus. It will help break new chains of infection, and will complement the more conventional contact tracing being carried out by the cantons. The app will undergo rigorous testing over the new few weeks.
The Federal Council adopted a temporary ordinance on 13 May to cover this phase. It is based on the Data Protection Act and regulates the organisation, operation, and use of the app, as well as the data it processes, for the duration of the test phase. Parliament is due to debate and adopt the comprehensive legislation during the summer session in June in order that the app can be used by the public.
However, even when the SwissCovid app is in use, it is vital that we continue to comply with the rules on hygiene and and social distancing. By combining the use of the app, conventional contact tracing and respecting the rules, we hope to prevent the virus from spreading again.
How does the SwissCovid app work?
The app uses Bluetooth technology to detect other smartphones nearby and measure how long they are in the vicinity. It registers any other phone with the app installed that is less than two metres away for more than 15 minutes. If a person using the app tests positive for the coronavirus, they can enter a code into their app. This then warns all other app users registered as having been nearby when the person was infectious.
Having received a warning message, people can then:
- get tested immediately if they have symptoms of the disease or develop them;
- avoid any contact with others as they might be infectious themselves.
Use of the app will be voluntary and free of charge. The more people that install and use the app, the more effectively it will help contain the coronavirus.
The SwissCovid app does not record any data
The app works on a decentralised basis: it does not collect or store any of the users’ personal usage or location data. The system is designed to ensure anonymity. No one will be able to use the app to reconstruct who was in contact with whom.
We will develop the SwissCovid app in collaboration with the Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication FOITT and the Swiss federal institutes of technology in Lausanne and Zurich (EPFL and ETHZ). It meets the highest privacy protection requirements.
Search for antibodies
How many people in Switzerland have already had the new coronavirus? Does having the infection and recovering from it mean you are then immune? A national study by the Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), a network comprising 12 Swiss universities, has launched a national study to find the answers to these questions.
Based on a proposal by Professor Milo Puhan, Head of the Institute of Epidemiology at the University of Zurich, the study aims to establish:
- how many people in Switzerland have already been infected with new coronavirus;
- if having the infection creates immunity from renewed infection;
- if so, how long this immunity lasts.
This will involve testing and examining around 25,000 members of the general public and people in specific professional groups at regular intervals up to October 2020. A blood test determines whether a person has had the virus: the presence of antibodies in the blood indicates that they have.
We are providing funding and expertise for this study. The findings will provide valuable information which will help the cantons and the federal government to determine how to proceed in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, and to decide on a vaccination programme in Switzerland at a later date.
Scientific advisory body
The Confederation has set up a scientific advisory body, the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force. Its members comprise researchers from across the Swiss scientific community. The Task Force is headed by Matthias Egger, president of the National Research Council of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The mandate comes from the Federal Council Coronavirus Crisis Unit KSBC, the FOPH and the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI.
Through its work the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force will help to overcome the coronavirus pandemic. It is providing its expertise in the fields of science and research to the relevant political authorities.
Further information can be found on the website of the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force.
Managing the coronavirus crisis: federal government wants to involve organisations and groups
The Federal Council Coronavirus Crisis Unit (KSBC) has set up the COVID-19 Civil Society Point of Contact. It offers a platform for exchanges with civil society. Non-profit and politically independent organisations and groups can submit concerns and ideas, which the Point of Contact then gathers and examines.
Aims of the COVID-19 Civil Society Point of Contact:
- Involving civil society in managing the coronavirus crisis
- Facilitating and improving dialogue between the Federal Administration and civil society
- Harnessing the potential of civil society initiatives
- Helping to manage the coronavirus crisis
The Civil Society Point of Contact looks forward to receiving your concerns and ideas. You can find further information and a contact form on the COVID-19 Civil Society Point of Contact website.
Press conference, 29 May, 2pm
All news
28.5.2020 - Public security test for the SwissCovid app
30.4.2020 - Pink – the new colour of the public awareness campaign – indicates that further restrictions are being eased
21.4.2020 - Keep up the good work – our motivational video
14.4.2020 - Staying at home and playing Bunny Madness
9.4.2020 - Online-game «Bunny Madness: Stay at home – Don’t get caught!»
27.3.2020 - Evaluation of anonymised data on gatherings
Links
Press releases
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Last modification 30.05.2020
Contact
Due to the extraordinary situation we are unable to respond in writing to enquiries.
Please refer instead to our webpages, which are continuously updated.
Under Contacts and links you will find contact information for the FOPH, other federal agencies and the cantons.
