This week, 14,811 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, up 30% from the week before (11,407). According to Alain Berset, Switzerland’s health minister, Switzerland will not be spared a fourth wave, reported RTS. However, this one will be different to the first three. The big difference this time is vaccination. 51% of Switzerland’s population has now […]
Swiss government considering new 60 km/h motorway limits
Swiss roads are clogged and the government is looking for new ways to make traffic run more smoothly. One idea is to cut the speed on certain stretches during periods of peak traffic, potentially to as low as 60 km/h. Currently, speeds are temporarily reduced from 120 km/h to 100 km/h and 80 km/h when […]
Most popular Swiss names in 2020
In 2020, the most popular baby names in Switzerland were Mia and Noah. Mia is a long time favourite, scoring the top spot in 2019 and 2020. Noah has had a good run in the top spot for boys. It came top in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2019, the top […]
Nearly three quarters of Swiss against buying an electric car
A survey in Switzerland found that 73% of the population does not plan to buy an electric car. Governments around the world are pushing for the electrification of road transport and many car manufacturers have made public commitments to stop making fossil fuel powered cars in the near future. However, these plans rest on the […]
Afghanistan — “We Tried to Tell You”
Afghanistan’s war has lasted over four decades and not 20 as is often claimed, notably since the US-led invasion of October 2001. Mort Rosenblum, who has covered Afghanistan since the early days of the Soviet occupation of the 1980s, explores the current US disaster and the crucial role of good reporting in getting people to […]
Sharp jump in Swiss Covid-19 intensive care patients
The latest figures on Covid-19 patients in intensive care in Swiss hospitals show a steep rise in numbers. On 18 August 2021, there were a reported 163 Covid-19 patients in intensive care wards across Switzerland. This number is far from the peaks of the first and second waves when ICU Covid-19 patient numbers exceeded 500, […]
Risk of parts of Swiss real estate market overheating, says UBS
The latest UBS Swiss Real Estate Bubble Index published this week shows several regions at risk of overheating property prices. The regions highlighted as exposed include Basel, Lausanne, Vevey, parts of the Vaud Alps, Lugano, Nidwalden, Luzern, Zug and the Zurich region, all parts of Switzerland where there is plenty of high paid work. Lausanne, […]
Covid: no more free tests in Switzerland from October
On 11 August 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Council said it expects to end free Covid-19 tests for those without symptoms from 1 October 2021, a decision that it will confirm on 25 August 2021, reported RTS. However, there will be exceptions. Those who cannot be vaccinated, such as some immunodeficient people and those under 12 will […]
Covid: Swiss cases and hospitalisations up sharply as holiday makers return home
This week, 11,407 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, up 81% from the week before (6,303). 143 hospital new hospital admissions were reported this week. Delays with hospital admissions data mean that recent figures are undercounted. Last week’s hospitalisation figures rose significantly after data collection caught up with reality. Similarly, the 143 admissions […]
Project to save lake Zug from pollution abandoned
Lake Zug and a number of other Swiss lakes are polluted with animal manure. The problem stems partly from Switzerland’s oversized livestock sector fed on imported feed. Scientists can gauge of the scale of the problem by measuring the phosphorus content of lake water. In Lake Zug there is currently 80 milligrams of phosphorus per […]
