Following in the footsteps of France the Catholic Church in Switzerland recently instructed two historians to investigate sexual abuse within the organisation, reported RTS. The researchers running the investigation are from the University of Zurich. They now have the task of collecting testimony from victims which will form the basis of a report on sexual […]
Switzerland no longer classified as a currency manipulator
According to the latest report by the U.S. Department of the Treasury released this week, Switzerland is no longer defined as a currency manipulator, a status it has held for some time. To be classified as a currency manipulator by the U.S. Treasury a nation has to fulfil three criteria. It has to have a […]
Covid: case numbers reach record levels in Switzerland this week
This week, 59,503 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, up 13% from the 52,470 reported the week before. Daily case numbers on a 7-day average basis now exceed last winter’s peak. The latest 7-day average figure published on 4 December 2021 was 9,390. The peak last winter was 8,061. Compared to last winter, […]
Covid: vaccinated make up 3% of those dying, according to Swiss hospital data
According to hospital reports in Switzerland, vaccination against Covid-19 is highly effective at preventing death. The latest version of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) report, which covers 20 Swiss hospitals, found that only 14 out of 495 Covid-19 deaths recorded between 23 December 2020 and 31 August 2021 were among those fully vaccinated, […]
Some health professionals in Switzerland argue for ICU priority for vaccinated
Covid-19 patients are again pushing intensive care units in parts of Switzerland towards their limits, causing some professionals to pose controversial questions on the allocation of treatment, reported 20 Minutes. In a press release this week, the Swiss Nursing Association sounded the alarm on intensive care units (ICU) reaching overload. It said that if significant […]
Covid: Swiss government tightens restrictions as hospitalisations rise further this week
This week, 52,470 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, up 23% from the 42,518 reported the week before. On a 7-day moving average basis the number of daily new cases was 7,496. Daily case numbers are now broadly back to last winter’s peak. So far, similarly high case numbers have not translated into the same level of […]
Covid: Swiss government tightens restrictions from Monday
On 3 December 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Council announced tighter restrictions from Monday. From 6 December 2021, Covid certificates will be required for more activities and mask wearing will be extended, said the government. In addition, the validity of rapid antigen tests will be reduced and people will be urged to work from home. Infection rates […]
Swiss-EU relations – no second billion for the EU
Since Switzerland broke off talks with the EU on closer integration in May 2021, some within government have been looking for ways to send a positive signal to the bloc. On 30 September 2021, the Swiss government agreed to pay around CHF 1 billion to Brussels with no strings attached. 131 versus 55 members of […]
Voters in Zurich support ban on oil and gas heating
Last weekend, 63% of voters in the canton of Zurich confirmed a government decision to phase out heating oil and gas heating in the canton. Laws passed by the cantonal government in 2014 to ban the installation of heating oil and gas heating in new and old buildings proved unpopular with some. Aiming to overturn […]
A Covid patient can cost more than 100,000 francs in Switzerland
From 8 December 2021, anyone in Singapore treated for Covid-19 who has not been vaccinated will need to cover the cost of their own treatment. In Switzerland, similar ideas were raised by Swiss parliamentarian Kurt Fluri in July 2021 and by Mauro Poggia, Geneva’s health minister in August 2021. Covid patients not only reduce the […]
