On 20 March 2021, around 8,000 people assembled in Liestal in Switzerland to protest against government measures to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The protest, which was authorised by the authorities, drew people from across Switzerland. According to a report by RTS, around 8,000 people were present, a number lower than the 8,500 […]
Swiss crime down sharply during first wave of pandemic
Statistics from Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office show a dramatic fall in the number of crimes during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020. Across all of 2020, 421,678 crimes were recorded, 2.4% fewer than the year before. Drug crimes (-9%), immigration crimes (-12%) and burglaries (-10%) were all down. At the same time violent […]
Government agrees on laws to tackle high Swiss prices
This article was first published on 365 club.ch Residents of Switzerland have long grumbled about the nation’s high prices compared to neighbouring countries. On 19 March 2021, the government moved a step closer to removing two of the competitive barriers inflating Swiss prices. There are many factors behind Switzerland’s high prices. Chief among them are […]
Mask wearing could last for years in Switzerland, say experts
Switzerland’s health authority says it expects mask wearing may be necessary for several years in Switzerland. The reason for longer term mask wearing is the risk posed by unvaccinated people. In a memo to cantonal health authorities, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) said that even after the vaccine has been offered to everyone […]
Covid: Swiss government to keep restaurants and theatres closed
On 19 March 2021, the Federal Council decided to relax restrictions regarding indoor gatherings of family and friends from five to a maximum of ten people. However, faced with rising case numbers, the risk of an uncontrolled increase in cases is currently too great to allow any further measures to be eased, said the government. […]
Covid: infections continue to accelerate this week in Switzerland
This week saw new cases rise 19.3%. This follows an increase of 13.5% the week before. Over the seven days to 19 March 2021, Switzerland reported 9,964 new Covid-19 cases. The 7-day average is currently 1,423 new daily cases, up from 1,194 last week. Vaccination progresses with 5.0% now fully vaccinated and 13.7 doses per 100 people […]
Covid: Swiss plan to open further now tentative after signs of third wave
On 12 March 2021, the Swiss government presented its tentative plan to reduce Covid-19 restrictions from 22 March 2021. According to the government it is currently unclear how the epidemic will develop. Reproduction rates and case numbers have begun rising again. The reproduction rate across the country is now 1.13 (5 March 2021) and only […]
Flu deaths surprisingly rare in Switzerland
Sometimes comparisons are drawn between the seasonal flu and Covid-19. But how many die from the seasonal flu in Switzerland in a typical year? According to Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office, surprisingly few. Over the ten years from 2009 to 2018, an annual average of 1181 people died from the flu in Switzerland, according to death […]
Covid: why is vaccination progress so slow in Switzerland?
When news of successful vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus was announced, many expected a relatively rapid transition back to normal life. However, more than two months since the first doses of vaccine were administered in Switzerland only 4.3% of the population has been fully vaccinated. Why has progress been so slow? The problem seems to […]
Covid: growth in cases accelerates this week in Switzerland
Over the seven days to 12 March 2021, Switzerland reported 8,355 new Covid-19 cases, 13.5% more than the week before, when cases rose by 2.8%. The 7-day average is currently 1,178 new daily cases, up from 1,051 last week. Vaccines and higher levels of natural immunity help. But according to a nationwide antibody testing programme, the majority […]
