Swissmedic said that it has carefully examined all the data submitted with the application for an extension for the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech for use on 5 to 11 year olds. The vaccine is safe and effective in this age group, said the drug approval agency. The vaccine for children is given in two doses […]
Cigarettes might soon cost double in Switzerland
The world is getting tougher on tobacco. This week, New Zealand’s government announced plans to make it illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone born after 2008. In Switzerland, where cigarettes are around 40% of the price in New Zealand, an anti-smoking association has called for prices to be hiked from CHF 8 to CHF 14 […]
Switzerland to follow France and investigate sexual abuse in Catholic Church
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 […]
