In Switzerland, home owners must add a fictional or imputed rent to their taxable income, which is calculated based on the home’s floor area. Proposals to eliminate imputed rent have been around for sometime. This week, the Federal Council came out in support of a plan to eliminate it put forward earlier by a commission […]
Covid: Swiss cases up this week as pressure rises on hospitals
This week, 17,997 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, up 22% from the week before (14,811). Many Swiss health experts are now referring to the current situation as a fourth wave. However, despite high rates of infection, death numbers are relatively low now that 51% of Switzerland’s population has now been fully vaccinated, including a majority […]
US FDA fully approves first Covid-19 vaccine
On 23 August 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first Covid-19 vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine has now been approved for use in individuals 16 and older. Previously, the vaccine was available under emergency use authorisation, a status which remains for use on those aged 12 to 15. “The FDA’s approval of […]
Almost all Swiss now out of Afghanistan
By 24 August 2021, all those working for the Swiss government and their close family members had either successfully left Afghanistan or made it to a secure part of the airport in Kabul, according to RTS. 15 Swiss citizens now remain in the country in addition to those at the airport. A total of 292 […]
SWISS makes Covid vaccination mandatory for all flight staff
On 24 August 2021, the airline SWISS announced it is making Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for its entire flying personnel from 15 November onwards. The airline explained the requirement was being introduced for operational reasons and as a duty of care towards its employees. The action is in response to national entry restrictions worldwide. Rules requiring […]
Swiss women rank top globally for hypertension in 2019
A recently published study funded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on rates of high blood pressure ranks Switzerland’s women top, with the lowest rate of hypertension among the 200 nations studied. The study estimates that 17% of Switzerland’s women suffer from hypertension. The top 10 nations for women include Peru (18%), Canada (20%), Taiwan […]
Researcher in Switzerland warns of potential Covid super variant
Sai Reddy, a researcher and immunologist at ETH Zurich, has warned of the potential emergence of a new super variant of the coronavirus that could occur if features of existing variants combined, reported RTS. Reddy, who works at the biosystems science and engineering department of ETH Zurich in Basel, told the SonntagsBlick newspaper that it […]
Covid: Geneva minister wants unvaccinated to pay for hospital
On 20 August 2021, Mauro Poggia, Geneva’s health minister, recommended unvaccinated people cover part of their own hospitalisation costs and lost earnings compensation should they end up in hospital or be unable to work after catching the virus, reported 20 Minutes. Solidarity towards the unvaccinated has its limits, said Poggia, while pointing out that 90% […]
Majority of Swiss support gay marriage ahead of vote
Ahead of a vote aimed at stopping a legal amendments to allow gay marriage in Switzerland, a survey suggests a majority of Swiss voters favour the changes. According to a survey by Tamedia, 64% of the population said they plan to vote in favour of accepting the government’s amendment to Switzerland’s civil code allowing same-sex […]
Covid: younger people ending up in hospital in increasing numbers
On 24 August 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced that 97 Covid-19 patient admissions were reported in Switzerland over the last 24 hours. Over the last 7 days a total of 325 Covid-19 admissions have been reported. The number of hospital admissions is currently far below the peaks of the first and […]
