It is still possible to fly to Switzerland from Brazil where a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 is circulating. This variant appears to be more contagious, more virulent and able to re-infect those who have had the original strain. Studies in Brazil suggests the P1 variant is 2.2 to 2.5 times more contagious. If this […]
Minimum wage hurting young people in Swiss canton
Around three years ago, the Swiss canton of Jura introduced a minimum wage of CHF 20 an hour (US$ 21.65). Now there is political pressure relook at the move, according to RTS. A group of cantonal parliamentarians from the PDC (CVP) is pushing for a review of the situation in response to pressure from some […]
Covid: Switzerland to reopen further from Monday
On 14 April 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Council presented plans to reopen the country further despite a deteriorating epidemiological situation. From Monday, 19 April 2021, it will be possible to hold events with audiences and spectators subject to restrictions, for example at sports stadiums, cinemas, theatres and concert venues. Indoor sports and cultural activities will also […]
More than half of UK has Covid-19 antibodies
On 14 April 2021, the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) issued a report that suggests 54% of the UK population had antibodies to Covid-19 by 28 March 2021. The comparable percentage in Switzerland could be around 25%, however there is no up to date data to indicate this. Most of the antibodies detected in […]
Cash makes a comeback in Switzerland during pandemic
At the beginning of the pandemic there were calls to avoid using cash for sanitary reasons. Contactless electronic payment was the recommended method of transacting. Last spring cash withdrawals from cash machines sank by 50% in Switzerland, according to the SIX Group. Across the whole of 2020, cash withdrawals from Swiss cash machines was down […]
Covid: cases and deaths up in Switzerland this week
This week, saw 14,451 new Covid-19 cases in Switzerland, up 10% from a week before (13,125). The 7-day average is currently 2,064 new daily cases, up from 1,875 last week. There were 98 Covid-19 deaths this week, up from 52 last week. At the same time Swiss hospitals report lower numbers of Covid-19 patients. One […]
Switzerland ranks in top 10 for gender equality
In 2021, Switzerland jumped from 26th to 10th (2020) in the WEF gender equality ranking. In 2021, Switzerland scored 0.798 overall – a score of 1.000 represents parity – up from 0.7000 in 2020. Top scoring Iceland came in at 0.892. Other nations in the top 10 included Finland (0.861), Norway (0.849), New Zealand (0.840), […]
Swiss air quality improves in 2020 but depends on location
In 2020, Switzerland was ranked 18th out of a 106 nations for the quality of its air, placing it comfortably in the top quintile. However, Swiss air quality depends on where you live. In 2020, Switzerland ranked 18th with a score of 9.00, up from a rank of 24th with a score of 10.90. The […]
Amnesty International critical of Swiss pandemic response
According to the human rights watchdog Amnesty International, the measures taken by the Swiss government in response to the pandemic placed disproportionate restrictions on freedom of expression. The organisation was also critical of Switzerland’s temporary suspension of asylum demands during the pandemic. Between March and June 2020, the Swiss government used exceptional powers in response […]
FILM: MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM ***1/2
9 April 2021. By Neptune In my exasperation last week, I had written, “I give up now.” I may have been exaggerating, though a kind reader took it seriously and wrote me not to give up nor lose courage and continue on into the Covid haze, finding new outlets for films and such… I shall […]
