FFP2 is roughly the European equivalent of N95. There are slight differences in how the standards are measured but from a function perspective for Corona virus at this point an FFP2 or FFP3 would be suitable. You may see FFP1 masks. These are the minimum level of protection and are basic dust and particle masks. They will not filter the virus.

That said, any effective use of masks is a separate discussion.

I order a few things from AliExpress here and there, couple times a year and 99% of the time receive them to Switzerland within 3-5 weeks. In January, I placed an order for a few extra (EU plug) phone chargers and cables for friends visiting from the United States in a couple of weeks.

Initial order was rejected a couple of weeks ago, they resent and the second order was also now rejected by Swiss Customs.

Seems a bit off from the normal, from what I have read and understood, the virus can not live on mail packaging or a non-living object, at least for not very long, but maybe the Swiss Government is not taking any chances.

From what I gathered quarantine over there means (at least for the moment) that schools, restaurants and public institutions are closed, trains don't stop there anymore. But there are no filters preventing people from entering or leaving the town, at least not yet.

Italian operators most probably found out about the fever issues from the passengers in question themselves....

Much more effective than masks is frequent hand washing. And I mean a good wash with soap and water for at least 30 seconds (sing “happy birthday” twice to yourself). Avoid touching your face with your hands (easier said than done).

And don’t panic. Most cases are mild and the fatality rate is actually quite low. If you get it, statistically you will not die.

If you actually find some masks remember;
They are only good for about an hour or so,
They should never be touched except when putting on and taking off. You should wash your hands after removing.
They need to be disposed of properly!

It is interesting how fast you get an appointment with a gp when complaining about fever and a cough.... (even when most likely it is a bronchitis)

get better soon!

Yep I can confirm. Wife just called for a sticky cough that just keeps on lasting and not feeling great in general, and was asked if she could be there in 50 minutes.

If I suddenly stop posting for weeks, can somebody bring chocolate crisp cookies to the quarantine center

Actually at the current reported rate of fatalities vs recoveries, it's 10% deathrate, which is rather huge. Much higher than the 0.3% rate of the annual winter flu.

Keep up with the flu statistics here: http://https://gisanddata.maps.arcgi...23467b48e9ecf6

Meanwhile, Health Minister Alain Berset decides that despite Northern Italy, aka our neighbour to the South, being in epidemic mode, it's not yet time to close the border. I do wonder if some of these politicians are hoping to shrink the global population (if not the global economy with all the emergency measures that'll have to be taken at this rate) through contamination of their various countries </tinfoil>

I do hope the Federal Council doesn't wait for Brussels's say so to suspend Schengen, it might be far too late. The Health Commissioner said today it's up to the member States, but we know how that goes...

Yes, but one doesn't simply ignore the other 50k+ people who have been diagnosed but have yet to either recover or die. They're part of statistics too.

I do wonder if it’s wise to ask potential carriers to rock up to their GP practice

Markets finally starting to move, really surprised it took this long. Glad I acted a couple of weeks back!

Nice that one person sees an advantage......

https://www.edi.admin.ch/edi/de/home...-id-78205.html


EN trans :


Corona virus: Additional measures in Switzerland

Bern, 02/24/2020 - Federal Councilor Alain Berset today informed the media about additional measures in connection with the coronavirus outbreak. To date, there have been no confirmed cases of infection with the virus in Switzerland. The federal government and the cantons are prepared if the virus is also detected in people in Switzerland. Because of the spread of the virus in Italy, Switzerland is on standby and the federal government has decided to conduct additional tests and provide the population with more information.

Around 300 suspected corona cases have been investigated in Switzerland. None was confirmed, all were tested negative for the Sars-CoV 2 virus in the reference laboratory in Geneva. In various countries, however, the contagion is increasing, in Italy the coronavirus cases have been increasing rapidly since the weekend. This increases the risk for Switzerland.

Protecting the population is a top priority for the Federal Council. This morning, the task force that has been working since the outbreak of the virus, led by the BAG, met and decided on additional measures. In this way, the tests for people with flu-like symptoms in Switzerland will be intensified, the hotline strengthened in all national languages ​​and an information campaign for travelers and commuters at the borders and at the airports will be launched. A second information campaign on personal protection measures is aimed at the general public. In addition, the personnel of public transport and the border guard should be given special instructions. To this end, the Confederation works closely with the health authorities of the cantons, in particular with those of the Canton of Ticino.

The measures are intended to prevent or delay a wave of illness in Switzerland as far as possible. The Federal Civil Protection Staff will also meet this afternoon to analyze the situation and discuss other possible measures. He coordinates operations at the federal level, including when there is a risk to public health. He has met several times since the outbreak of the epidemic in China.

The Federal Council is closely monitoring the international situation and preparations in Switzerland and is regularly informed. It also continuously receives information from the European Early Warning System (EWRS) via the Federal Office of Public Health. Federal Councilor Alain Berset is also in contact with the European health ministers.

The advantage that $$$$ don’t get scythed off my pension pot?! Or should the aim be to lose money?

I prefer to rely on the WHO for my statistics. Including this one issued today.

Outside of China
1769 confirmed (367 new) 28 countries
17 deaths (6 new)

17 deaths out of 1769 is a little less than 1%

Edited to add. No deaths in South East Asia, no deaths in N. America. 3 deaths in Europe.

WHO is always behind with the figures, Italy by now has 7 death and had more than 2 yesterday.

Also death rate is depending on so many things, if the virus would hit only an elderly care centre in Switzerland our deathrate might be incredible, would it only be a football club with lots of healthy young people it might be 0, besides that so many other factors.
- Are numbers accurate?
- How many people dead or recovered do not get diagnosed?
- Is healthcare system overrun or not?
- How good is the healthcare system? Switzerland or Iran makes a big difference on chances of survival.
- It might differ per mutation of the virus.
- How many of the stil ill people will die?

I think it wil be like all the others larger outbreaks, we simply will never know and just make an assumption and hope it is anyway near correct.

Those statistics I quoted were issued this morning. Tomorrow’s figures will no doubt include the additional deaths.

Do you really prefer to depend on statistics from unverified sources?

Sure, unverified sources as the Ministero della Salute from Italy, 5 death :/

http://www.salute.gov.it/nuovocoronavirus

More as in that at the moment they publish, other numbers are already known even from official sources. There are some sites that show statistics and update these the moment a government releases new numbers, nothing to do with unofficial sources, just the same as the NWO does only a lot quicker.

At this moment the official numbers are 36 Deaths, and 2401 cases outside China and 345 recovered, meaning 2020 still ill. WHO is nice to look at how the situation was, not if you want to know how the situation is currently.

My point is the numbers are becoming bigger and especially in the beginning a deathrate will go up and down quickly, it makes no sense to already start talking about death rate at this point, we just don't know.

Assuming that people don't die straight away after contracting it (they don't), if those 1769 people have not fully recovered then your 1% could be be way off.

Additionally, those 17 deaths are not from the 1769 cases but from a far smaller number of cases, perhaps a week ago (again, people are not dying straight away from it so you cannot take a snap shot on one day of number of cases against number of deaths and give the death rate as a percentage).