Would mass testing also make sense in Switzerland?

Mass testing is currently the strategy of some neighboring countries: In South Tyrol, over 250,000 people tested. D.Slovakia is already planning more on December 2nd Corona mass test, in which almost the entire population must be tested. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz wants to use mass tests to “make Christmas as safe as possible”.

For Basel epidemiologist Marcel Tanner, such mass tests are problematic if they are not done consistently. You can’t have everyone tested once, because not all infected people would be registered. “If you test the population today, don’t register people without symptoms or during the incubation period, as these people are not yet contagious,” Tanner explains. Someone who was infected three days before the test would have had a negative result on the mass test.

Slovakia under fire

Tanner takes Slovakia as an example: in the first test, only about 50% was recorded there. “This means that the broadcast continues. This only leads to a false sense of security and disappointment, ”says Tanner.

Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovič boasted on Friday despite strong criticism of the approach taken so far. His idea of ​​mass testing now serves as a model for imitators, from Liverpool to South Tyrol to our neighbor Austria. However, there should be no penalties for failing to participate in further tests in Slovakia. After the first two rounds of testing, those who weren’t tested were treated almost like people with a positive test result. For example, you were not allowed to go to work without a negative test.

No mandatory test in Austria

In Austria first the teachers and then the police officers have to be tested, he said The government announced on Friday. Just before Christmas, the entire population, around nine million people, could be tested. Participation is voluntary for everyone, Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz stressed.

Epidemiologist Tanner doubts the usefulness of mass testing in Europe: “A mass test in an island state like New Zealand is completely different from ours, be it Austria or Switzerland. We are in the center of Europe and we have all the exchange “.

Or are you happy

In special situations, the member of the Covid-19 Task Force finds the procedure quite sensible: “When you test an entire choir of a church or a sports club. We have already done this. However, these are epidemic checks that are meant to determine how far the virus has already spread. “

In terms of logistics, the large organizational achievement of mass testing would theoretically be possible in Switzerland as well, believes Tanner. In his view, however, the best way is still to comply with the currently applicable measures. “This is definitely the best strategy for a quieter Christmas. Better than launching such a huge operation now, “says Tanner. Now self-discipline is needed so that at the end of December there is a mood instead of panic.