Swiss hospitals face collapse in 10 days if virus keeps spreading

Patients arrive to a medical screening tent for coronavirus testing outside the University Hospital of Geneva (HUG), in Geneva, Switzerland March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy

ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland's health care system could collapse by the end of the month if the new coronavirus keeps spreading at current rates, a government official warned on Tuesday.

Swiss authorities estimated that 2,650 people had tested positive for the coronavirus and said 19 people had died, while predicting cases will likely soar in the weeks ahead.