The use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) is currently banned in Switzerland. Their use was outlawed after a majority of Swiss voters voted in favour of a moratorium on their use in 2005. This moratorium, which expires at the end of December 2021, has been extended three times since 2005. This week, the Federal Council […]
Covid: mobile data pinpoints infection hotspots
Modelling based on mobile data finds that a small minority of super spreader venues account for a large majority of infections. It also shows that restricting maximum occupancy at these places would be more effective than uniformly reducing mobility. The research, which was published this week, used anonymous mobile data covering the hourly movements of […]
Covid: 553 deaths in Switzerland this week as infection rate slows
Over the 7 days to 13 November 2020, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 553 deaths among laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases, bringing the death toll to 1,229 since summer and 2,960 since the beginning of the year. The 553 reported deaths this week represent 19% of the total so far, making the last 7 days the deadliest […]
Covid: Switzerland to spend 100 million francs more on vaccines
Switzerland’s federal government has increased the amount of money earmarked for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines by CHF 100 million, bringing the total to CHF 400 million. The announcement came as preliminary trials of a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech found it to be more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 in participants without evidence of prior […]
Covid: no time to relax, says minister as 3-day Swiss case number returns to 17,000
On 9 November 2020, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 17,309 new laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases over 72 hours, bringing the total to 229,222. The 24-hour average number of new cases of 5,770 recorded over the weekend is lower than the previous weekend when it was 7,309 (21,926 over 72 hours). However, Alain Berset, the […]
Covid sceptics taking up more and more Swiss police time
Some Covid sceptics and those energetically opposed to measures to stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are consuming an increasing amount of police time, in particular the time of staff at Switzerland’s Federal Office of Police (Fedpol), reported RTS. The rising propensity for violence associated with Covid sceptics is taking up a lot of […]
Covid T-cell response found to last at least 6 months
A study by the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium (UK CIC) found T-cell immunity persisted for 6 months in a group of medical staff. The study, published as an un peer reviewed preprint, is believed to be the most significant piece of research on the subject. Unlike antibodies, which attach to the virus, T-cells attack cells […]
Covid: 370 deaths in Switzerland this week as hospitalisations rise above last peak
Over the 7 days to 6 November 2020, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 370 deaths among laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases, bringing the death toll since summer to 676. There are currently 3,503 Covid-19 patients in hospitals across Switzerland, according to FOPH figures published by RTS. Yesterday, Switzerland was using 77% of its current intensive care capacity (1,054 places), […]
Covid: 62 new deaths as hospitalisations rise in Switzerland
On 5 November 2020, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 62 deaths among laboratory-confirmed cases of Covid over 24 hours, bringing the total death toll since summer to 606. Current daily deaths are not far from the peak level reached during the first wave over spring, according to FOPH data. In addition, FOPH reported […]
Covid: hospitalisations and deaths rise as 10,000 new daily cases reported in Switzerland
On 4 November 2020, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 10,073 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection over 24 hours, bringing the total to 192,376. Test positivity was 28%. The challenge now facing Switzerland is hospital capacity. Hospitals could reach overload within 5 days, said Virginie Masserey of the FOPH. There are currently 3,371 Covid-19 patients in hospitals across […]
