Salathé, MarcelMarcelSalathéAlthaus, ChristianChristianAlthaus0000-0002-5230-6760Neher, RichardRichardNeherStringhini, SilviaSilviaStringhiniHodcroft, EmmaEmmaHodcroftFellay, JacquesJacquesFellayZwahlen, MarcelMarcelZwahlen0000-0002-6772-6346Senti, GabrielaGabrielaSentiBattegay, ManuelManuelBattegayWilder-Smith, AnneliesAnneliesWilder-SmithEckerle, IsabellaIsabellaEckerleEgger, MatthiasMatthiasEgger0000-0001-7462-5132Low, NicolaNicolaLow0000-0003-4817-89862024-09-022024-09-022020-03-09https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/35282Switzerland is among the countries with the highest number of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases per capita in the world. There are likely many people with undetected SARS-CoV-2 infection because testing efforts are currently not detecting all infected people, including some with clinical disease compatible with COVID-19. Testing on its own will not stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Testing is part of a strategy. The World Health Organization recommends a combination of measures: rapid diagnosis and immediate isolation of cases, rigorous tracking and precautionary self-isolation of close contacts. In this article, we explain why the testing strategy in Switzerland should be strengthened urgently, as a core component of a combination approach to control COVID-19.en600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & health300 - Social sciences, sociology & anthropology::360 - Social problems & social servicesarticle10.7892/boris.1426083219181310.4414/smw.2020.20225