Shortly after the UK announced it was struggling to contain a new faster spreading variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the Swiss government announced a backdated 10-day quarantine requirement for UK arrivals. This affected tourists from the UK already in the winter resort of Verbier. Some media, including the BBC, reported that 420 UK tourists, some […]
Former Swiss army boss supports compulsory military or civil service for Swiss women
Currently, all able bodied Swiss men must serve in Switzerland’s military or spend time doing civil service. The obligation begins at the age of 18. However, the obligation only applies to men. Women can serve but are not required to. An initiative (servicecitoyen.ch), which is planned for 2021, aims to replace the existing system with […]
From Scotland to Uganda, climate catastrophe to female exploitation: these young people are making a difference
By Peter Hulm Individuals often despair of achieving anything with private action to tackle problems such as climate catastrophes, making fashion sustainable or protecting women and young girls from exploitation. The problem is that so much depends on governments, companies and organizations including the United Nations to step up and put in place wideranging measures […]
Covid: first person vaccinated in Switzerland
On Wednesday, a 90-year old resident of an old age home in Luzern, Switzerland, was vaccinated against Covid-19. She was the first person to be vaccinated against the disease in Switzerland. Older vulnerable people in four other Swiss cantons have been vaccinated since. 107,000 doses of the Pfizer/Biontech vaccine arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday and […]
What are the odds of a snowy Swiss Christmas?
Snow on Christmas day is fairly rare across most of Switzerland. Meteo Suisse has compiled a list of snowy Christmas periods (24/25/26 December) at various locations over the 80 years to 2016. When assessing the chance of snow, altitude is a key determinant, so the range is significant in Alpine Switzerland. Over 80 years, the […]
Flights resume between UK and Switzerland with restrictions
From Thursday 24 December 2020, residents of the UK and South Africa currently in Switzerland are allowed to fly home from Switzerland. Those currently in either of these two countries who reside in Switzerland will also be able to fly home, announced Switzerland’s Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). Flights between Switzerland and these two […]
Covid: restaurants and cafés to close across French-speaking Switzerland
Restaurants and cafés will progressively close once more across French-speaking Switzerland starting in the canton of Jura on Tuesday 22 December 2020. On 18 December 2020, Switzerland’s Federal Council decided to close restaurants, bars, cultural venues and sports and leisure facilities from 22 December 2020. However, exceptions were allowed in cantons with R-numbers (reproduction rates) […]
Covid: retroactive quarantine for those arriving from the UK and South Africa
Following the discovery of a new, more contagious variant of the coronavirus in the UK and South Africa, the Federal Council today decided to take steps to prevent the further spread of this new variant. On Sunday, 20 December 2020, all flights to and from these countries to Switzerland were halted from midnight. Today, the […]
Covid: Switzerland suspends flights from the UK and South Africa
Late on 20 December 2020, the Swiss government decided to suspend flights to Switzerland from the UK and South Africa following news of the discovery a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus. The decision by the Swiss government follows similar decisions by Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherland. Air, road, rail and maritime links […]
Covid: Switzerland approves first vaccine
On 19 December 2020, Swissmedic, Switzerland’s drug authorising agency, approved the first Covid-19 vaccination for the Swiss market. The agency approved the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech for adults from age 16. The first doses of vaccine will be delivered to Switzerland in the next few days. The first delivery will comprise 100,000 doses, followed by […]
