As Switzerland battled against the Covid-19 pandemic last year, there was a 20% drop in other highly infectious diseases in the country.
The Federal Office of Public Health says that around 65,000 cases of highly infectious diseases were reported in 2020, with declines in diseases ranging from 15 to 90 %, compared to the predicted numbers of cases.
Diseases that must be reported to health authorities include Tuberculosis, Salmonella and Legionnaires’ disease.
Covid restrictions, including wearing a mask, social-distancing, and the rise in outdoor exercise are considered to be partly responsible for the decline.
Such restrictions are also believed to have contributed to the fall in sexually transmitted diseases.
Fewer travel-related infections were reported, with international and domestic travel grinding to a halt.
Tick-borne meningoencephalitis was the only reported disease that increased last year, up 13% on the norm.
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