This week, 10,309 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, down 31% from the 15,024 recorded the week before. This week there were 35 recorded Covid-19 deaths compared to 38 the week before and the number hospitalised fell from 300 to 223. However, delays in reporting mean recent death and hospitalisation data will be revised upwards when the data […]
Presumed consent for organ donation, accepted by Swiss government
This week, the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, followed parliament and approved presumed consent for organ donation in Switzerland, reported RTS. In response to an initiative launched to put the question of presumed consent of organ donation to Swiss voters, the Federal Council came up with a counterproposal that presumes consent but gives those […]
US to reopen to fully vaccinated travellers from Switzerland
On 20 September 2021, White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients announced the United States would reopen to fully vaccinated travellers from 33 countries in early November 2021. Travel from Europe to the US ended on 20 January 2020 after then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at stemming the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 […]
Swiss health insurer announces plan to refund 400 million francs
The Swiss health insurer Groupe Mutuel announced that it plans to refund CHF 400 million to its policy holders, according to RTS. The company, which started returning money to its policy holders two years ago hopes to provide further premium rebates over the next three years. Last year the company returned CHF 101 million and […]
Covid tests to remain free for Geneva’s students
Last week, the Federal Council mandated Covid certificates for entry into universities and other tertiary educational institutions, catching many by surprise. For the unvaccinated or unrecovered the only way to obtain a Covid certificate is by testing. But test-based Covid certificates expire quickly requiring tests to be regularly repeated. This is a hassle but currently […]
Swiss health insurers to refund 300 million francs
Switzerland’s largest health insurers are poised to refund around CHF 300 million to policy holders, reported RTS. Switzerland’s health insurers have reserves of roughly CHF 12 billion, around 2 times the minimum reserve requirement, and have been under pressure from the government to return the money to policy holders. This week Switzerland’s parliament decided to […]
Commission alarmed by the state of Switzerland’s soil
Ultimately, the plants we eat are made up of energy from the sun and compounds and elements extracted from the soil. Meat, eggs and diary are the same, just one step removed. This means the availability and nutritional value of food is heavily dependent on healthy soil. A recently released commission report raises the alarm […]
Covid: new cases, hospitalisations and deaths down this week in Switzerland
This week, 15,024 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, down 22% from the 19,237 recorded the week before. This week there were 31 recorded Covid-19 deaths compared to 44 the week before. The number hospitalised also fell from 327 to 238, a drop of 27%. However, delays in reporting mean recent hospitalisation data could be revised upwards. Last […]
Entry into Switzerland more difficult from 20 September
On 17 September 2021, the Federal Council announced new testing and administrative requirements for entering Switzerland. The move comes at a time of concern over the impact of approaching cold weather and autumn holidays on the spread of the virus. Last year, the number of Covid-19 patients in Swiss hospitals rose sharply in October. At […]
Health expert recommends Covid certificates for Swiss ski lifts
Lukas Engelberger, head of the association of cantonal health directors, has recommended making Covid certificates compulsory for riding on Swiss ski lifts, reported Le Nouvelliste. According to Engelberger, requiring Covid passes to access ski lifts would remove the need to wear masks and make people feel safer. In any case most skiers are likely to […]
