Coronavirus: Friday bulletin on case numbers in the Canton of Basel-Stadt

As of Friday, 05 February 2021, 10:30, the Department of Health Basel-Stadt had recorded a total of 9456 positive cases among people living in the Canton of Basel-Stadt since the start of the pandemic, 240 active cases in isolation and 1320 people in quarantine. The 7-day notification rate per 100,000 residents is 91 (CH: 98), the 14-day notification rate is 188 (CH: 236). The situation in schools in Basel-Stadt is more relaxed in January 2021 than it was in December 2020. In total almost 14200 vaccination doses have so far been administered in Basel-Stadt.

Of the 240 active cases, 32 residents of the Canton of Basel-Stadt are in hospital. In addition, 15 people from outside the canton or abroad are being treated in hospital in the Canton of Basel-Stadt. Of the total of 47 people in hospital, 11 require intensive care.

The total of 9456 cases of infection in the Canton of Basel-Stadt since the start of the pandemic consists of 9035 recoveries, 181 deaths and 240 active cases. There have been 93 new cases of infection since the last bulletin on Tuesday, 02 February 2021. A woman aged 90 has died in hospital as a result of Covid-19.

Information about sources of infection

The current sources of infection have been recorded as follows: 832 new infections were recorded in the Canton of Basel-Stadt during the past four weeks (period from 08 January to 04 February 2021). 58 percent (or 486 cases) of the new infections could be attributed to known or suspected sources of infection. Most of them caught the infection from their own family (47 per cent) or when meeting with family or friends (5 per cent), at work (11 per cent) or in a nursing home (8 per cent). 17 percent said that they had several possible sources of infection.

The situation in schools

Infection rates in Basel-Stadt’s schools were lower in January 2021 than they were in December 2020. As of 1 February 2021, approximately 350 children (2.7 percent) out of approximately 13000 pupils in primary schools and nurseries, and 60 teachers and specialist staff (3.1 percent) were in quarantine or isolation. At secondary schools (around 4500 pupils), approximately 35 young people (0.8 percent) and 8 teachers (1.2 percent) were in quarantine or isolation. And at higher secondary schools [Mittelschulen] and vocational colleges [Berufsfachschulen] (around 7400 pupils) approx. 120 pupils (1.6 percent) and 8 teachers and specialist staff (0.7 percent) are in quarantine or isolation. Since there are several very large schools in Basel-Stadt, it is often the case that one or more classes and daycare facilities are affected by quarantines, but not the whole school. Since the beginning of the year, the Department of Health has become aware of 22 cases of coronavirus mutations in Basel schools. The Department of Health is carefully monitoring the situation and is in close contact with the Department of Education.

The canton can envisage targeted, more extensive testing in schools if the epidemiological situation suggests that this would be appropriate. Basel-Stadt is currently working on various different project ideas for making testing more extensively and targetedly accessible to asymptomatic individuals, in discussion with the Federal Government and other cantons. 

Current status of vaccinations

14195 vaccinations against coronavirus have been administered in the canton since the vaccination programme began in Basel-Stadt (as of 2 February 2021). 3759 people have been fully vaccinated, i.e. they have also received their second vaccination. Second vaccinations began on 18 January 2021. 11812 people were vaccinated at the vaccination centre in Messe Basel and 2383 by mobile vaccination teams in care and nursing homes. Over three quarters of the approximately 2700 nursing home residents in Basel-Stadt have already received their first vaccination. These figures show that vaccine acceptance in care and nursing homes is high. The Department of Health is assuming that it will be possible to complete administration of first and second vaccinations in nursing and care homes in February, provided that deliveries of the vaccine arrive on time. It has also been possible to vaccinate over 400 staff in emergency departments and intensive-care units at the University Hospital of Basel, the University Children’s Hospital of the two Basel Cantons and Claraspital. The aim of this is to prevent staff absence due to illness on these wards because they are crucially important for the operation of the hospitals and healthcare. Due to major global vaccine supply bottlenecks, it is unfortunately not possible to adequately satisfy local demand at the moment.

Please note:

Case numbers continue to be updated every day on the website www.coronavirus.bs.ch. The latest vaccination figures can be found on the Basel-Stadt data portal.