Swiss hospitals face collapse in 10 days if virus keeps spreading

[malaise]

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/coronavirus-covid-19-switzerland-hospitals-12549472
<snip>
Switzerland's health care system could collapse by the end of the month if the new coronavirus keeps spreading at current rates, a government official warned on Tuesday (Mar 17).

Swiss authorities estimated that 2,650 people had tested positive for the coronavirus and said 19 people had died, while predicting cases will likely soar in the weeks ahead.

Exact figures were unavailable. Daniel Koch, head of the Federal Office of Health's communicable diseases division, said the rapid rise had outstripped the state's ability to record new cases in real time.

Koch urged residents to observe strict emergency measures ordered this week, including bans on events and gatherings, calling these critical in limiting the damage and protecting hospitals from a potential collapse.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Jesus!

[marble falls]

2. Its going to take it's toll before we get it under control.

[winetourdriver01]

4. Yes it is

The governor of California says half the states forty million people could be infected over the next eight weeks, and over four million could die. This is scary a/f. I live in SF, and am sixty nine years old.

[appalachiablue]

11. Stay well, safe and check in with us please.

Keep the faith

[dalton99a]

3. Yep.

Red line is seven-day moving average (NYT)

[msongs]

5. switzerland has universal health care, all residents are required to have a treatment provider nt

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Watching Rachel on masks

Is any organization or company ramping up ad hoc mask production? People would willingly supply what they can, it could be up and running in a couple days. Anyone?

[SMoss]

9. Mask materials

There is a company called E-Spin in Chattanooga TN that manufactures nano-filter materials for air filters and masks. They don't make surgical masks, but they can supply materials. In Pennsylvania people are sewing masks at home out of just cloth, (no filter material between the cloth layers). The E-Spin nano-fiber filter material can filter out even large virus from the air. Viruses are very small compared to bacteria.

[NoMoreRepugs]

7. Banning Chinese masks is stupid. Where do u think many of

the current supply being used came from??

[SergeStorms]

10. No kidding.

I believe 3M makes their masks in China as well. The trouble is they don't even have them in China. 1.5 billion Chinese will get them first. I ordered 100 N95 masks from a company in China on January 17. I have not received them, or even gotten confirmation that they've been shipped. I've emailed the company but have received no replies. I ordered through Amazon and notified them today. I imagine I'll receive an email tomorrow telling me I've been issued a refund.

[rockfordfile]

12. Making so many things in one country. Karma

[bobbieinok]

8. Now retired cousin and husb were drs in Switzerland