Swiss healthcare spending fell steeply during the first wave of the pandemic as non-essential surgery was postponed. However, these savings have since been wiped out, leaving spending for the year 1.16% higher than in 2019, according to RTS. The total amount spent on healthcare in Switzerland in 2020 hit CHF 34.5 billion, CHF 400 million […]
IMF praises Switzerland’s economic response to the pandemic
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Switzerland has economically navigated the Covid-19 pandemic well so far. In 2020, the Swiss economy shrank by 2.9%, far less than many other advanced European economies. France (-8.2%), Germany (-4.9%), Italy (-8.9%) and the UK (-9.9%) all performed far worse. According to the IMF, the impact of the […]
Swiss bankruptcies fell by 7% in 2020
In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic hit the Swiss economy. GDP fell by 2.9% compared to 2019. However, despite the fall in economic output the number of bankruptcies fell by 6.7% compared to 2019. In addition to a fall in the number of bankruptcies, the sum lost from closed bankruptcies fell 27%, after adjusting for the […]
France asks Switzerland for help with Covid patients
The French region of Bourgogne-Franche Comté has contacted several Swiss cantons and asked them if they would take Covid patients, according to RTS. Jacques Gerber, the minister of health in the canton of Jura told RTS that there had been a request from France to prepare in case French hospitals become overloaded. New cases have […]
Possible link found between very rare blood clots and AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine
On 7 April 2021, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced the results of an investigation that suggest a possible link between the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine and very rare cases of blood clots. By 16 March 2021, around 20 million people in the UK and EEA had received the vaccine, and by 18 March 2021, the […]
Swiss 2020 grape harvest modest but excellent
Last year’s grape harvest in Switzerland produced nearly 84 million litres of wine, down 13% on the 10-year average and the lowest volume in 10 years. Cold weather in Spring damaged the grape buds as they flowered, but a hot dry summer ensured rich flavour and sugar, two features that should ensure an exceptional vintage. […]
Unusually deadly avalanche season in Switzerland this winter
With the end of Switzerland’s ski season only weeks away, the number of avalanche deaths this season is already unusually high level. The average annual number of people caught in avalanches over the last 20 years is 177. This winter 296 people were affected, a 67% rise. 215 (73%) of the avalanches this season were […]
Inflation accelerates in Switzerland in March
During 2020, average annual inflation was –0.7%, according to Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office (FSO). Since the beginning of 2021 it has begun to rise. In January 2021 inflation was 0.1%. In February it rose to 0.2% and it March it was 0.3%. Since the end of 2020, Swiss prices have risen by nearly 0.6% (0.56%). […]
Covid: hospital patients younger as cases rise and more elderly vaccinated this week
This week saw new Covid-19 cases rise 13% in Switzerland. Over the seven days to 2 April 2021, Switzerland reported 13,125 new Covid-19 cases. The 7-day average is currently 1,875 new daily cases, up from 1,658 last week. At the same time deaths have declined from 87 last week to 52 this week. One driver of declining […]
Parliamentarian wants reference to God removed from Swiss constitution
Fabian Molina, a member of Switzerland’s National Council, has put forward a motion to have the wording of the preamble to Switzerland’s constitution changed, according to 20 Minutes. Molina, a member of the young socialists from Zurich thinks the wording of the preamble to the constitution, which opens with the words “In the name of […]
