Switzerland says distancing measures could last another two years
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Unexpected discoveries about a virus scientists still don’t know well could slow down the development of a safe and effective vaccine, Matthias Egger said in an interview published on Sunday.
Egger, who leads the scientific task force set up by the Swiss government to coordinate advice and research on the virus, told the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper he hoped large-scale vaccinations could take place in the context of studies in a year’s time.
But until doctors have all the answers to the virus, measures like social distancing should continue in a bid to keep the reproductive rate or R0 factor (the estimated number of new infections caused by a single case) below one – and thus slow the spread of the virus.
“We may have to live like this for another two years or more,” he said.
His views were echoed by Didier Pittet, head of the infection control programme at Geneva University Hospital.
Pittet told the newspaper Le Matin Dimanche that Switzerland has managed to lower its R0 factor from a high of 3.8 at the start of the outbreak to 0.6, following lockdown measures.
To prevent another spike, he said social distancing, good hand-washing and wearing masks in certain situations may be necessary in the long term.
