Swiss healthcare spending fell steeply during the first wave of the pandemic as non-essential surgery was postponed. However, these savings have since been wiped out, leaving spending for the year 1.16% higher than in 2019, according to RTS. The total amount spent on healthcare in Switzerland in 2020 hit CHF 34.5 billion, CHF 400 million […]
IMF praises Switzerland’s economic response to the pandemic
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Switzerland has economically navigated the Covid-19 pandemic well so far. In 2020, the Swiss economy shrank by 2.9%, far less than many other advanced European economies. France (-8.2%), Germany (-4.9%), Italy (-8.9%) and the UK (-9.9%) all performed far worse. According to the IMF, the impact of the […]
France asks Switzerland for help with Covid patients
The French region of Bourgogne-Franche Comté has contacted several Swiss cantons and asked them if they would take Covid patients, according to RTS. Jacques Gerber, the minister of health in the canton of Jura told RTS that there had been a request from France to prepare in case French hospitals become overloaded. New cases have […]
Possible link found between very rare blood clots and AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine
On 7 April 2021, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced the results of an investigation that suggest a possible link between the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine and very rare cases of blood clots. By 16 March 2021, around 20 million people in the UK and EEA had received the vaccine, and by 18 March 2021, the […]
Covid: hospital patients younger as cases rise and more elderly vaccinated this week
This week saw new Covid-19 cases rise 13% in Switzerland. Over the seven days to 2 April 2021, Switzerland reported 13,125 new Covid-19 cases. The 7-day average is currently 1,875 new daily cases, up from 1,658 last week. At the same time deaths have declined from 87 last week to 52 this week. One driver of declining […]
Swiss government commission to look at funding for Long Covid
The number of infections and deaths have been the main focus of health authorities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Those suffering from Long Covid have often been overlooked in the rush to save lives. How many people suffer from Long Covid and for how long is something patients, researchers and medical professionals are still discovering. It […]
Switzerland sets timetable for Covid-19 vaccination certificates
Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has announced a timetable for the roll out of certificates providing proof of vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The government is under pressure from business groups to issue Covid-19 immunity certificates as part of a strategy to get the economy back to normal. A recent letter sent to […]
Covid: 50% of Switzerland might need to wait until late July for a vaccination
Under the federal government’s worst case scenario, 4.3 million adults representing 50% of Switzerland’s population might need to wait until the second half of July 2021 to receive an initial shot of vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This group of 4.3 million includes all adults under 65 who don’t have certified health issues that put […]
Covid: deaths steady as cases rise 17% in Switzerland this week
This week saw new Covid-19 cases rise 17%, following an increase of 19% the week before. Over the seven days to 26 March 2021, Switzerland reported 11,608 new Covid-19 cases. The 7-day average is currently 1,658 new daily cases, up from 1,423 last week. It reached the same level in mid-October 2021 entering the second wave. […]
Serious cycling injuries up sharply in Switzerland in 2020
Last year the number of serious road injuries on Swiss roads rose 4% to 3,793, according to FEDRO, Switzerland’s road authority. Venturing on to roads on two wheels was the most likely way to end up seriously injured. Cyclists and e-bikers together accounted for the largest share (38%) of total serious accidents, followed by motorcyclists […]
