Over the weekend, Switzerland averaged 3,250 new daily recorded cases (9,751 over 72 hours). This represents a significant drop from the daily peak of 10,128 cases reported on 5 November 2020. The 7-day moving average number of new cases in Switzerland is currently more than 40% below the peak around 2.5 weeks ago. At the […]
Covid: only the vaccinated get to travel abroad, suggests Swiss infectious disease expert
Resistance to vaccinations is significant in Switzerland. A survey done in November 2020 suggests only 16% of the population would get vaccinated immediately if there was an approved Covid-19 vaccine, reported 20 Minutes. More than a quarter (28%) of those surveyed said they would refuse, leaving a majority who said they would decide at some […]
Swiss family relations worsened more after confinement than during it
Recently published research suggests family relations in Switzerland deteriorated more after pandemic-induced confinement rather than during it. A study conducted by the University of Luzern showed that family conflict rose more after lockdown rather than during it. People in families were asked how they felt during the eight weeks of restrictions over spring and over […]
Fribourg raises smoking age to 18, including for e-cigarettes
This week, the government of the canton of Fribourg decided to raise the smoking age from 16 to 18 across the canton, according to RTS. Research suggests that 57% of smokers start before the age of 18. The hope is that if tobacco is less accessible to young people fewer will end up with a […]
Covid: Switzerland’s deadliest week so far as infection rate continues to slow
Over the 7 days to 20 November 2020, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 615 deaths among laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases, bringing the death toll to 1,844 since summer and 3,575 since the beginning of the year. The 1,168 reported deaths over the last 14 days represent 33% of the total deaths so far. The most recent 7 days have […]
Coronavirus biggest concern among Swiss, according to survey
The coronavirus pandemic and its consequences rank at the top of the list of Swiss concerns in 2020, according to a recent survey. This is the first time in the history of the Crédit Suisse Worry Barometer that a new issue has topped the list of people’s worries. Following in second and third place on […]
Covid: Swiss ICU numbers reach new peak as infection rate moderates
The are currently 543 Covid-19 patients in intensive care in Switzerland, a number above the peak of 527 reached during the first wave, reported to SRF based data supplied by ICU monitoring. Over the last 48 hours, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported a further 227 deaths among laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases, bringing the death […]
Covid: 198 deaths in Switzerland over weekend as infection rate slows
Over the last 72 hours, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 198 deaths among laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases, bringing the death toll to 1,427 since summer and 3,158 since the beginning of the year. At 4,000, the number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients remains high in Switzerland, based on figures published by RTS. During the first wave, this figure peaked at […]
Government resists call to use banned insecticide to save Swiss sugar beet
The use of a class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids has been restricted in Switzerland since 2018. Neonicotinoids are a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically similar to nicotine developed in the 80s and 90s. They attack the nervous system of insects causing paralysis and death. Their use has been linked to the collapse of the […]
Swiss government wants to extend GMO ban
The use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) is currently banned in Switzerland. Their use was outlawed after a majority of Swiss voters voted in favour of a moratorium on their use in 2005. This moratorium, which expires at the end of December 2021, has been extended three times since 2005. This week, the Federal Council […]
