DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Swiss news & articles
How will the fourth wave of COVID be different in Switzerland?
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

How will the fourth wave of COVID be different in Switzerland?

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

7 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in November 20227 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in November 2022
7 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in October 20227 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in October 2022
Swiss Federal Council proposes mandatory COVID certificate Swiss Federal Council proposes mandatory COVID certificate
April 2025 in Switzerland: 10 major changes expats need to know aboutApril 2025 in Switzerland: 10 major changes expats need to know about
October 2024: 10 changes expats in Switzerland need to know aboutOctober 2024: 10 changes expats in Switzerland need to know about
COVID and flu vaccinations in Switzerland: What you need to knowCOVID and flu vaccinations in Switzerland: What you need to know
9 important things expats in Switzerland need to know about in October 20239 important things expats in Switzerland need to know about in October 2023
Switzerland says yes to Climate, OECD and COVID-19 actsSwitzerland says yes to Climate, OECD and COVID-19 acts
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemapRSS feeds
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Aug 19, 2021
Jan de Boer

Editor at IamExpat Media

Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016. While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more

Members of the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force have warned of a fourth wave coming to Switzerland, especially if vaccination rates remain low.

Warning from Swiss government after “exponential increase” in COVID

COVID cases in Switzerland have doubled three times over the past month, with the past two weeks seeing 25.196 cases in total. The Reproductive number remains high, with the last week recording an R-number of 1,5 - a similar rate of infection seen during the second wave.

"The possibility of the next big wave is definitely there,” said Rudolf Hauri, President of the Association of Cantonal Doctors, emphasising that doctors remain concerned over the new rise in cases. The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) also warned of a new wave, saying that hospital admissions had increased tenfold in a month, although they stress that the healthcare system is not overwhelmed. 

Vaccines can help avoid fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic

Although cases are still rising, both the FOPH and the Task Force note that, unlike previous waves, the worst of the surge can be avoided through vaccinations. The FOPH reported that 95 percent of patients admitted to hospital in recent weeks had not been vaccinated.

Basel researcher and member of the Task Force, Richard Neher, said that the vaccine is still a “game changer," but that the rate of vaccination has to remain high. "Regions with similarly low vaccination rates as Switzerland, for example, the US states of Texas and Florida, are already facing high case numbers and high hospitalisation rates," said Neher.

Booster jabs “are not yet necessary” in Switzerland

Despite recommendations by Pfizer and Moderna for a third vaccination or “booster jab," Neher doesn’t believe it is necessary yet, stating, “As long as a large part of the world is still waiting for a first or second dose, in my opinion there is no need for a major booster vaccination campaign." The government remains undecided as to when to give vaccinated people a booster jab.

In the meantime, the Task Force is considering whether testing or proof of vaccination should be made a requirement in some settings. Neher states that it made sense to limit access to smaller events for those without proof of vaccination, test, or recovery. He says that an extended requirement could help flatten the wave and convince the undecided to get vaccinated. The FOPH concludes that, although a fourth wave is coming, it is still possible to ward off its effects if more people get the jab.

By Jan de Boer