After consulting with the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force, Switzerland’s scientific Covid advisory team, Switzerland’s federal government has decided to leave schools open. However, cantons can still decide to close them if they decide to and some have done so. For the Task Force classroom teaching should only be prevented if the epidemiological situation […]
Covid: 17,245 cases and 387 deaths reported in Switzerland this week
This week, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 17,245 positive Covid-19 cases and 387 deaths. Over the seven days to 15 January 2021, the number daily cases reported in Switzerland averaged 2,464. This figure is significantly below the daily reported average leading up to Christmas. In the 7 days to 18 December 2020, […]
Covid: Switzerland reaches 66,000 vaccinations against the virus
Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) recently reported that 66,000 people in Switzerland had been vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. The number was communicated by Nora Kronig of the FOPH during a press conference in Bern on Thursday 14 January 2020. The 66,000 is likely to be lower than the actual […]
Off-piste skiing discouraged as Swiss avalanche risk rises
The avalanche risk is currently high in Switzerland, according to WSL, a research institute that monitors avalanche risk in Switzerland. The area stretching from the border with Liechtenstein across to and including much of the Bernese Oberland is at greatest risk. Avalanche risk in this region is at Level 4 anywhere above 1,600m, said WSL. […]
Long Covid symptoms persist beyond 7 months, according to new data
Recent research based on information from 3,762 Long Covid sufferers shows most still have symptoms after 7 months. The study uses patient-driven research and is based on a survey created by a team of patients with COVID-19 who are members of the Body Politic online COVID-19 support group. The group conducted its first survey in […]
Covid: Swiss government extends and tightens measures
On 13 January 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Council announced a 5-week extension of the current restrictions and introduced further measures. The Federal Council said that it fears the more infectious variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus could lead to a rapid rise in numbers at a time when new cases remain very high. In little more than […]
Covid: Switzerland grants approval for second vaccine
On 12 January 2021, Swissmedic, the Swiss agency for the authorisation and supervision of pharmaceutical products, approved a second vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus for the Swiss market. The vaccine from Moderna, of which the federal government has ordered around 7.5 million doses, has been approved for adults from age 18. Over the coming days […]
Covid: 2,851 cases over 24 hours in Switzerland
Today, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced 2,851 positive Covid-19 cases over 24 hours. The average number of new daily cases has averaged 2,344 over the last four days, a figure significantly lower than the daily averages leading up to Christmas. In the 7 days to 18 December 2020, the average number of […]
Covid: tension rises between Switzerland’s scientists and politicians
Tension between Switzerland’s scientists and politicians is rising, according to RTS. On Saturday, Christian Althaus, an epidemiologist working for the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force, Switzerland’s scientific Covid advisory team, announced his resignation and voiced his frustration on Twitter. “One of the reasons why I left the scientific task force this week. Politicians must […]
Covid: closing Swiss schools one of most effective measures, says study
The number of Covid cases went down significantly in Switzerland during spring as a result of schools closing, according to a study by ETH Zurich, reported RTS. Researchers at the university analysed anonymised mobile phone data of 1.5 billion movements of the Swiss population between 10 February and 26 April 2020. They used this data […]
