Blog
Also your cat and dog should go in social isolation
Today, many news outlets reported that one of the Bronx zoo tigers was tested positive for COVID-19. The tigress Nadia developed a severe dry cough, reason why she got tested. It turned out that also the other three tigers along with three lions developed the same...
Shall masks be worn? Yes, but it depends!
True or false? „Washing hands is useless because people don’t do it right and because they touch their face too often!“ FALSE! But why do we hear the same arguments about wearing hygiene mask (surgical masks) to prevent the spread of the respiratory disease COVID-19?...
Crisis management thinks ahead. It is time to develop scenarios for the steps to come!
Imagine you are a pilot. Suddenly a flock of geese hits your flaps, your engine turns off and your plane goes into a steep dive. Will you just try to flatten the curve? No. You must simultaneously regain control over your trajectory, assess what systems still work,...
How simple masks can protect and why it works only if all participate
Have I lost my mind when I say that mandating everybody to wear hygiene masks could help reduce the spread of COVID-19? No. What I propose is to use hygiene masks as an emission control device. Let me explain the concept for adressing COVID-19 with a simple model.
At risk people should stay at home – let them do this as closed social groups!
Those at biggest risk of getting seriously ill from the Corona-virus are asked to stay at home and to go into total social isolation. However, being isolated and alone is a serious burden for their psychological and social well being. We have to find ways to overcome...
Masks are key to resume a mostly normal life
COVID-19 is a very dangerous disease. Can we lock up everybody to prevent the spread? Yes, we can – or almost. An effective strategy that allows most of us to return to a mostly normal life should include wearing masks, washing hands and keeping them clean, and an active programme to produce safety materials.
Washing your hands is not enough, you also need to keep them clean
A couple weeks ago, I was at a public toilet with my two young kids. While we were carefully washing our hands, we saw a strange looking guy heading from his toilet cubicle straight to the door as if he was allergic to water and soap. My kids were shocked and...
What can be done if there are not enough testing kits? Use a smart testing strategy!
In Switzerland, authorities say they test only clear cases because they are afraid to run out of testing kits. But is this the best sampling strategy? Shouldn’t we define a strategy that maximises the information we get from the available tests? In epidemiological...
How do you share the workload and how do you get the message to the people?
In my last article I highlighted that we need the participation of the population to effectively battle against COVID-19. Information is central to achieve optimal participation, and I am not talking about information how to wash hands. I am an occupational hygienist....
COVID-19: It’s too early for fatalism – but swift and decisive actions are needed including the participation of everybody
In the past couple days I got asked by many of my contacts, friends and relatives what I think of the Corona-situation. In my view, the battle is not lost but swift and decisive actions are needed that require not only actions from the authorities but also the...
