On 13 May 2020, Karin Keller-Sutter, Switzerland’s ministerial head of police and justice, said Switzerland is aiming to fully reopen borders between Germany, Austria and France on 15 June 2020. After discussions with her counterparts in these three countries she said there was a common will to return to normal as quickly as possible including […]
Swiss government reveals more on Covid-19 tracing app
On 13 May 2020, Switzerland’s government published more information on the Swiss Proximity Tracing App (Swiss PT), an app designed to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Developed by teams at EPFL and ETHZ, the app uses Bluetooth to detect when your phone comes within two metres of another phone or device with the app. It […]
Coronavirus: the dangers of singing
As Switzerland reopens, the details around how SARS-CoV-2 spreads becomes more relevant to everyday life. Matthias Egger, the head of Switzerland’s Covid-19 task force, stresses the importance of continuing to follow social distancing and hygiene rules. However, the Swiss government’s recommended rule of staying two metres away from the next person might not be enough […]
Coronavirus: Switzerland’s anti-lockdown protests
Over the weekend, hundreds rallied against lockdown measures across Switzerland in the cities of Bern, Zurich, Basel and St. Gallen. Anti-lockdown protesters in these cities flouted rules introduced in mid-March banning public groups of more than five people, designed to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The protestors consider the rules in breach of […]
Recent testing suggests 9.7% of Geneva has had Covid-19
A third round of SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing by researchers at Geneva’s HUG hospital suggests 9.7% of the canton might have had Covid-19. Geneva currently has a crude fatality rate of 5.3%, based on the total number of people testing positive (5,031) and the recorded number of Covid-19 related deaths (269). The antibody testing programme, which […]
Most think Switzerland is reopening fast or too fast, according to survey
A survey published on 7 May 2020, suggests only 36% of Swiss support the government’s calendar for reopening the country after the Covid-19 shutdown. 23% think the plan to reopen is too slow, while 42% think it is fast or too fast. However, 60% said they had confidence in the government. The most controversial aspects […]
Coronavirus: risk of second wave real, says Swiss Covid task force chief
Interviewed on Swiss radio, Matthias Egger, the head of Switzerland’s Covid-19 task force, described the risk of a second as real, according to RTS. Switzerland’s population must continue with social distancing and hygiene, said Egger. Next Monday 11 May a number of establishments will be allowed to open, including schools, retailers and restaurants. All must […]
Coronavirus: new rules for Switzerland’s restaurants
Restaurants in Switzerland will be able to reopen on Monday 11 May 2020. But they’ll need to follow strict rules that were published this week. The seven pages of detailed restaurant rules will make dining in the time of Covid-19 quite different to what we’re accustomed to. Rules put together by the industry and Switzerland’s […]
Contaminated cheese – don’t eat these cheeses
Switzerland’s Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) has issued a warning that cheeses produced by Käserei Vogel AG in Steinerberg, Switzerland are contaminated with listeria. The products, which should not be eaten, have been recalled from shop shelves, however, some were sold before the recall. The cheeses contain Listeria. Among those with no immunity […]
Coronavirus: new cases in Switzerland reach lowest level since 3rd of March
Over the five days from 30 April 2020, the daily number of new cases in Switzerland fell consistently. Last Thursday, 30 April 2020, there were 179 recorded new cases of Covid-19. Over the next five days the figure fell to 28. The last time it was this low was 3 March 2020 at the beginning […]
