COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. In most people, symptoms are mild to moderate. Some people can become very sick or have long-term health problems after being infected. A vaccine is available.
Key figures on the current incidence of the coronavirus: FOPH Infectious Diseases Dashboard (IDD)
Pathogen and transmission
COVID-19 disease is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. This belongs to the coronavirus family of viruses, which can cause colds of varying severity in humans. Animals can also contract various coronaviruses.
Coronavirus can be transmitted between people in different ways. Usually it is transmitted through droplets and aerosols that are shed by an infected person when they cough, sneeze or speak. While droplets lead to transmission in the immediate vicinity, aerosols can be suspended in the air and cause transmission over longer distances, particularly in enclosed spaces with insufficient ventilation.
Occasionally, coronavirus may be transmitted through contact with surfaces or via the hands on which droplets containing the virus are present. Another person could then be infected if they get these droplets on their hands and then touch their mouth, nose or eyes.
Symptoms
Infection and symptoms
COVID-19 disease can occur from two to 14 days after infection with the coronavirus. On average, people get sick three to four days after infection but they are already contagious two days before symptoms appear. In other words, they can already infect others before they even know that they are sick. So even without symptoms they may be contagious.
The most common symptoms are a cough, fatigue, a high temperature, headache, muscle aches, a cold and sore throat. Some people may also experience a loss of taste and/or smell. The symptoms can vary. People are most contagious while they have symptoms.
Disease progression
A COVID-19 infection affects everyone differently. Most people have mild to moderate symptoms and recover within a few days, while some get very sick and need hospital treatment. Certain people are at especially high risk of a severe case of COVID-19.
Who is at especially high risk?
- People aged 65 or over: the risk of a severe case of COVID-19 increases with age. Pre-existing conditions further increase the risk.
- People aged 16 or over with Trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome)
- People aged 16 or over with certain forms of the following chronic diseases:
o High blood pressure
o Cardiovascular diseases
o Diabetes
o Respiratory conditions
o Diseases and treatments that weaken the immune system
o Cancer
o Obesity (BMI ≥ 35)
o Kidney failure
o Cirrhosis of the liver
If you are at especially high risk, contact your doctor or specialist if you experience cold symptoms. This will ensure you can access treatment as soon as possible if you have contracted coronavirus.
If you are not sure whether or not you are at especially high risk, please contact your doctor.
Post COVID-19 condition (long COVID)
Post COVID-19 condition can occur after infection with the coronavirus. The most common symptoms are fatigue and exhaustion, breathing problems, and concentration and memory problems. These symptoms may be of varying severity and may affect everyday functioning. The symptoms may have existed since the COVID-19 infection or have only occurred after recovery and may change over time.
You can find more information on the page Post COVID-19 condition.
Spread and incidence
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus first emerged in late 2019. It quickly spread across the globe and led to the COVID-19 pandemic. As SARS-CoV-2 was a new virus, most people's immune systems were not prepared for it.
In the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 100 million cases were recorded in Europe alone. Even in Switzerland, nearly everyone has come into contact with the coronavirus.
Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, the coronavirus has continually mutated and new variants have appeared. There were several waves of the virus during which many people were infected at the same time. The severity of the disease changed and generally decreased over the course of the pandemic as the virus variants in circulation and the immunity of the population evolved.
You can find key figures on the current incidence of the coronavirus on the FOPH Infectious Diseases Dashboard (IDD).
Prevention
The COVID-19 vaccination is recommended in the autumn/winter for those at especially high risk. It offers protection against severe COVID-19 symptoms. In addition to vaccination, other measures can also reduce the risk of infection.
You’ll find more information at: Protect yourself and others from respiratory infections.
Vaccination
Who is advised to get vaccinated?
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended in the autumn/winter for the following groups:
- People aged 65 or over
- People aged 16 or over with pre-existing conditions
- People aged 16 or over with trisomy 21
- Pregnant women
The above groups have an increased risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19 and their immunity also tends to decline more quickly. Vaccination improves protection against severe disease and any associated complications for several months.
Timing of vaccination
The ideal time to get a COVID-19 vaccination is between mid-October and mid-December. The vaccination can be administered any time from six months since the last COVID-19 vaccination or from six months since a known coronavirus infection. Other vaccinations with inactivated vaccines (such as the flu vaccination) can also be administered before, at the same time, or after a COVID-19 vaccination.
Your doctor can offer the COVID-19 vaccination. Many pharmacies in Switzerland offer vaccination advice, and also vaccination in most cantons.
Vaccine
We advise vaccination with an mRNA vaccine that has been adapted to the current coronavirus variants, regardless of what vaccine(s) you may have received in previous vaccinations.
Effectiveness and side effects
The COVID-19 vaccination provides protection against severe COVID-19 disease for several months. However, it provides barely any protection against infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In people with underlying health conditions, the protection against severe disease may be less effective and not last as long.
Side effects are possible with any vaccination. They are usually mild to moderate and subside quickly. Common side effects include reactions at the injection site such as pain, redness and swelling, headaches and fatigue. Muscle and joint pain and general symptoms such as chills, feeling feverish or a high temperature may also occur.
In very rare cases, severe side effects may be felt. A small number of people, for example, have experienced a severe allergic reaction directly after being vaccinated, with symptoms such as severe swelling, redness, itching or difficulty breathing. In very rare instances, an inflammation of the heart muscle or of the outer lining of the heart has been observed within 14 days of the vaccination. These cases have generally been mild and easily treatable.
Other side effects may also be felt, with symptoms of varying duration. If you experience any severe or unexpected symptoms following a COVID-19 vaccination, contact a doctor or a pharmacist.
Costs
If a vaccination is recommended and carried out in a hospital or by a doctor, the mandatory healthcare insurance will cover the costs, subject to deductible and retention fee.
Persons for whom COVID-19 vaccination is not presently recommended can also be vaccinated after individual consideration and decision. They, as well as all people who get vaccinated at a pharmacy, pay for the vaccination themselves.
Information on testing
For people at especially high risk of severe illness, it may make sense to get tested to determine what medical steps or treatments are necessary. If you are at especially high risk, contact your doctor or specialist. This way, if you have contracted COVID-19, rapid treatment with antiviral drugs can be considered.
Your compulsory health insurance will pay the costs of any such tests individually ordered by a doctor if the result of the analysis determines the further course of therapy. This is the case when a decision has to be made regarding the prescription of an antiviral Covid drug.
Documents and links
Last modification 29.11.2024
Contact
Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Division Communicable diseases
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
3003
Bern
Switzerland
Tel.
+41 58 463 87 06