Non-pharmaceutical measures to contain the coronavirus, such as business closures, are associated with high economic and social costs. In collaboration with Prof Dr. Mark Schelker (University of Fribourg), Swiss Economics has examined the impact of individual non-pharmaceutical measures on the course of the pandemic in Switzerland, measured in terms of the number of hospitalisations (to the Study).

We find a robust negative - meaning reducing - effect on the hospitalisation rate for the restriction and shutdown of restaurants and bars and the prohibition of large events. No statements can be made on the effectiveness of other measures due to the empirical situation. However, it should not be concluded from this that these measures had no effect.

Methods

• Empirical analysis of Swiss data at cantonal/municipal level
• Diff-in-diff regressions

Downloads

• Study
• Media coverage i.e. NZZ, Watson (DE, FR), 10vor10, SRF (DE, FR)