Drastic measure
The Swiss canton wants to oblige caregivers who do not work as such to be on duty if necessary
Medical staff could soon become scarce in Switzerland. The canton of Graubünden is preparing for an emergency.
© Laurent Gillieron / DPA
The Omikron variant is also causing a rapidly increasing number of infections in Switzerland. One possible consequence: staff shortages in important professions. The canton of Graubünden is now preparing itself for an emergency so that it does not get that far in the healthcare sector.
It is a drastic measure, one for emergencies: the Swiss canton of Graubünden wants to oblige trained nursing staff who are currently not working in this industry to serve. This is announced by the local administration in a press release. “It can be assumed that the sharp increase in corona cases will bring medical care and human resources in the nursing professions to their limits,” it says there. Therefore, all persons to whom the description applies and who do not belong to a risk group should report to the authorities and, if necessary, be obliged to act.
Switzerland expects staff shortages in the healthcare system due to Corona
The first step is to record all potential candidates in order to be able to access a database just in case, and to force the people in the care sector to be deployed if necessary. In view of the current tense situation, it will be inevitable that health and care facilities will have to cope with staff shortages in the future, it said.
The number of infections in Switzerland has recently risen rapidly: On Wednesday the Federal Office of Public Health reported 32,881 new infections. The 14-day incidence is 3467.38. Graubünden is one of the cantons with the most corona cases: the incidence there, at 5595.81, is well above the national average.
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Government advisor Tanja Stadler announced on Tuesday that she expected a major burden for hospitals in Switzerland. “It will be extremely difficult at certain points,” she said. Therefore, the quarantine of contact persons for infected people is to be shortened to five days.
Source: Appeal from the Canton of Graubünden