Switzerland continues to shift towards organic farming. Between 2000 and 2020, the number of organic farms has risen by 54%. In 2020, the number rose 3.8%. Organic farms now make up 15.3% of total farms in Switzerland, up from 6.9% 20 years ago. In 2000, there were 4,902 organic farms. By 2020, the number had […]
Covid: new cases continue to decline in Switzerland this week
This week, saw 8,897 new Covid-19 cases in Switzerland, down 16% from the week before (10,639), continuing the downward tend of new numbers of recorded infections, which fell 21% over the prior week. The 7-day average is currently 1,271. The last time it was this low was mid-March 2021. Covid deaths are declining too. This […]
40,000 hotel and restaurant jobs lost in Switzerland in 2020
Recent data show that Swiss hotels and restaurants shed 40,000 jobs in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with restaurants reliant on business travel hit the hardest, according to RTS. These figures do not include the effects of the pandemic beyond the end of 2020 and therefore exclude the impact of the pandemic […]
Italy drops quarantine requirement for Switzerland and rest of Europe
On 14 May 2021, Roberto Speranza, Italy’s minister of health, signed an ordinance removing the 5-day quarantine requirement for travellers arriving in Italy from the EU and Schengen zone, which includes Switzerland. The change, which also extends to travellers from the UK and Israel, will take effect from 16 May 2021. Travellers to Italy from […]
Swiss Covid-19 deaths 38% higher than official figure, reveals research
According to calculations by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), a global health research centre at the University of Washington, 14,040 people have likely died from Covid-19 in Switzerland rather than the 10,179 deaths officially recorded. That is 38% more. The total global Covid-19 death toll using IHME’s methodology is 7.3 million, a […]
Covid: vaccination of 12 to 15 year olds on the horizon in Switzerland
Those with teenagers wishing for the greater travel freedom likely to come with proof of vaccination may have cause for hope. On 7 May 2021, Pfizer submitted an authorisation application to Swissmedic, Switzerland’s drug approval agency, for use of its vaccine against Covid-19 on those aged 12 to 15 years old. The application asks for […]
Switzerland follows European ban on the food additive E171
Titanium dioxide, a substance added to food, cosmetics and paints, is set to be banned for use in food in Switzerland. Switzerland’s Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) has said that it plans to ban titanium dioxide (E171) use in food in Switzerland, according to various Swiss media. The bright white substance, also known […]
Covid: Swiss government sets out plans for further reopening
On 12 May 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Council announced plans for further reopening. The epidemiological situation is easing in terms of case numbers, hospitalisations and intensive care unit capacity, said the government. The public are continuing to observe the protective measures, and the reopening steps introduced on 19 April 2021 have not led to an increase […]
Latest poll shows majority support for Swiss anti-pesticide votes
With five weeks to go before Swiss vote on two initiatives aimed at drastically cutting the use of pesticides, more than 50% appear to be in favour of both initiatives, according to RTS. One of these initiatives, the clean drinking water initiative, aims to tie access to Switzerland’s generous farm subsidies to forgoing pesticide (and […]
Covid: new cases trend down with vaccine progress
This week, saw 10,639 new Covid-19 cases in Switzerland, down 21% from a week before (13,465) continuing the slow down in growth of new numbers experienced last week (-5%). The 7-day average is currently 1,519. “We have good reasons to be optimistic,” said Patrick Mathys, head of the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force at […]
