On 6 May 2021, the Swiss government announced a new contract with Moderna to deliver another 7 million more doses of its vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in early 2022. Switzerland’s federal government said that the new contract means Switzerland is well equipped to tackle future virus mutations and should have enough vaccine to offer […]
Short expiry notice for Swiss banknotes sparks criticism
Last Wednesday, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) announced that old Swiss banknotes would no longer be legal tender from Friday, 30 April 2021. The short notice period has generated complaints and confusion. The eighth series of Swiss banknotes did not lose their value, however, they are no longer an accepted means of exchange. The only […]
Air sensors recommended in Swiss schools to cut spread of Covid-19
Aircraft have HEPA filters which help to remove impurities and viral particles from the air. However, many buildings lack any form of air filtration, which requires air to be manually refreshed. A federal study in 2019 found that two thirds of Swiss classrooms were insufficiently ventilated. In some cases the air towards the end of […]
Swiss switched to local wine during pandemic
In 2020, wine consumption is Switzerland slumped by 6%. However, consumption of locally produced wine rose 0.3%. The biggest drop was in imported white wine (-14%), followed by imported red wine (-8%). Consumption of Swiss red wine (+0.5%) rose the most followed by Swiss white wines (+0.2%). Big drivers of falling wine consumption were the […]
Renters charged fees to view apartments in Geneva
Some agencies in Geneva are exploiting the city’s tight property market by charging people money just to view apartments, according to a report by RTS. A practice described as parasitic by ASLOCA, a rental association, involves an agency contacting those who have placed adverts for vacant apartments and offering them their services. The agency promises […]
Covid: 13,465 new cases in Switzerland this week
This week, saw 13,465 new Covid-19 cases in Switzerland, down 5% from a week before (14,110) continuing the 5% slow down in growth of new numbers experienced last week. The 7-day average is currently 1,924, dipping below the level of 2,000 for the first time since 11 April 2021. By 30 April 2021, 10.8% of […]
Surfing comes to the Swiss Alps
In landlocked Switzerland there is no access to the sea and no waves. Until now. A surfer decided to bring waves to Switzerland and created Alaïa Bay wave garden near Sion in the Swiss canton of Valais not far from Verbier and other action Swiss towns. The operation is so new it doesn’t yet show […]
Real Swiss salaries up most in 5 years
On 30 April 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office released salary data for 2020 which showed a 1.5% rise in real salaries compared to 2019. In 2020, a 0.8% rise in nominal salaries was boosted by inflation of -0.7% bringing the total increase in the real average Swiss salary to 1.5%. The last time salaries rose […]
Swiss referendum against gay marriage passes signature hurdle
This week, Switzerland’s federal government announced that an application for an optional referendum against gay marriage had collected enough valid signatures to clear the way for a vote on the subject. On 18 December 2020, Switzerland’s upper house voted in favour of gay marriage after it was endorsed by a parliamentary majority, clearing the way […]
Basel offers beggars one-way tickets anywhere in Europe
The city of Basel is offering beggars travel vouchers to any destination in Europe in exchange for agreeing not to return. The city’s immigration service is offering rail vouchers and CHF 20 to any beggar requesting it, according to 20 Minutes. To get the voucher beggars must sign a written contract promising not to return […]
