Since 13 September 2021, a Covid certificate has been required to enter bars, restaurants, museums, cinemas, theatres, public baths and various other places in Switzerland. From Saturday, 2 October 2021, the same requirement will be extended to the Federal Palace in Bern, reported RTS. A bill making Covid certificates compulsory to enter the Federal Palace […]
Swiss government defends its strategy ahead of second anti-Covid vote
On 28 November 2021, Swiss voters will be asked whether they accept laws passed by the government on 19 March 2021 that paved the way for the introduction of Switzerland’s Covid certificate, a system that provides proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test. This is the second time a vote has been organised to […]
Covid: Swiss government set to extend free tests
Free Covid-19 tests in Switzerland were set to end by 1 October 2021. However, on 24 September 2021, the federal government announced free tests would be extended until the end of November 2021 for the partially vaccinated while they wait for their second shot, and until 10 October 2021 for everyone else, announced the government. […]
Swiss vote in favour of gay marriage but reject tax hike – 26 September 2021
On Sunday, 26 September 2021, legal changes made by the Swiss government to allow gay marriage were accepted by 64.10% of Swiss voters, while a majority (64.88%) rejected a plan to tax investors and company owners harder than salary earners. Majorities in all cantons voted in favour of gay marriage. The margin was slimmest in […]
Swiss pandemic spending low when compared internationally
The think tank Avenir Suisse has calculated that in 2020 the Swiss federal government spent CHF 5 per person per day on the pandemic, a total of CHF 41 million a day. While an enormous sum, this compares favourably to a number of other nations. For example, the UK spent CHF 8 francs per person […]
Swiss to vote on gay marriage this weekend
On 26 September 2021, Swiss voters will decide whether legal amendments to allow gay marriage should be accepted. Currently, two men or two women cannot marry in Switzerland. Instead they may only enter into a legal partnership. To remove this anomaly the government agreed in 2020 to amend the civil code to allow same-sex marriage. […]
Covid: new cases down sharply this week in Switzerland
This week, 10,309 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, down 31% from the 15,024 recorded the week before. This week there were 35 recorded Covid-19 deaths compared to 38 the week before and the number hospitalised fell from 300 to 223. However, delays in reporting mean recent death and hospitalisation data will be revised upwards when the data […]
Presumed consent for organ donation, accepted by Swiss government
This week, the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, followed parliament and approved presumed consent for organ donation in Switzerland, reported RTS. In response to an initiative launched to put the question of presumed consent of organ donation to Swiss voters, the Federal Council came up with a counterproposal that presumes consent but gives those […]
Nespresso capsules cannot be protected, says highest Swiss court
The shape of the Nespresso coffee capsules is ordinary and unmemorable, according to Switzerland’s highest court, reported RTS. In Switzerland, inventions are protected for 20 years. After that they become part of the public domain and can be copied by anyone. Trademarked brands on the other hand last for 10 years with the possibility of […]
US to reopen to fully vaccinated travellers from Switzerland
On 20 September 2021, White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients announced the United States would reopen to fully vaccinated travellers from 33 countries in early November 2021. Travel from Europe to the US ended on 20 January 2020 after then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at stemming the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 […]
