The avalanche risk is currently high in Switzerland, according to WSL, a research institute that monitors avalanche risk in Switzerland. The area stretching from the border with Liechtenstein across to and including much of the Bernese Oberland is at greatest risk. Avalanche risk in this region is at Level 4 anywhere above 1,600m, said WSL. […]
Long Covid symptoms persist beyond 7 months, according to new data
Recent research based on information from 3,762 Long Covid sufferers shows most still have symptoms after 7 months. The study uses patient-driven research and is based on a survey created by a team of patients with COVID-19 who are members of the Body Politic online COVID-19 support group. The group conducted its first survey in […]
Swiss referendum launched against same sex marriage
In early December 2020, the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house voted in favour of same sex marriage, finalising a government decision to change Switzerland’s laws to allow marriage equality for all. Since then those opposed to the idea have been busy. The proposed referendum is entitled: Yes to marriage and family, no to marriage […]
Covid: Swiss government extends and tightens measures
On 13 January 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Council announced a 5-week extension of the current restrictions and introduced further measures. The Federal Council said that it fears the more infectious variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus could lead to a rapid rise in numbers at a time when new cases remain very high. In little more than […]
Covid: Switzerland grants approval for second vaccine
On 12 January 2021, Swissmedic, the Swiss agency for the authorisation and supervision of pharmaceutical products, approved a second vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus for the Swiss market. The vaccine from Moderna, of which the federal government has ordered around 7.5 million doses, has been approved for adults from age 18. Over the coming days […]
Covid: 2,851 cases over 24 hours in Switzerland
Today, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced 2,851 positive Covid-19 cases over 24 hours. The average number of new daily cases has averaged 2,344 over the last four days, a figure significantly lower than the daily averages leading up to Christmas. In the 7 days to 18 December 2020, the average number of […]
Covid: tension rises between Switzerland’s scientists and politicians
Tension between Switzerland’s scientists and politicians is rising, according to RTS. On Saturday, Christian Althaus, an epidemiologist working for the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force, Switzerland’s scientific Covid advisory team, announced his resignation and voiced his frustration on Twitter. “One of the reasons why I left the scientific task force this week. Politicians must […]
Covid: closing Swiss schools one of most effective measures, says study
The number of Covid cases went down significantly in Switzerland during spring as a result of schools closing, according to a study by ETH Zurich, reported RTS. Researchers at the university analysed anonymised mobile phone data of 1.5 billion movements of the Swiss population between 10 February and 26 April 2020. They used this data […]
Swiss unemployment up steeply in 2020
Today, figures on Swiss unemployment at the end of 2020 were published. At the end of December 2020, there were 163,545 people registered as unemployed in Switzerland, a figure 39.5% higher than at the end of 2019. At 31 December 2020, the number of job seekers was 260,318, a number 34.9% above the same figure […]
Swiss passport one of the most powerful in 2021
The Henley Passport Index ranks all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Without taking temporary restrictions into account, Japan continues to hold the number one position on the index, with passport holders able to access 191 destinations around the world visa-free. This marks the […]
