In Geneva, the number hospitalised with Covid-19 has reached 134, the highest it has been since the first wave in spring. On Friday 16 October 2020, there were 94 patients. This represents a jump of 43% in 3 days. Across Switzerland, the picture is similar. On Friday there were 582 Covid-19 patients hospitalised. By Monday, […]
Coronavirus: new rules from Monday as cases rise fast in Switzerland
On 18 October 2020, after an extraordinary meeting, Switzerland’s Federal Council announced masks would become mandatory across all of Switzerland. In addition, certain gatherings of more than 15 people are to be banned and employers are required to follow recommendations for staff to work from home. Since 19 June 2020, the governments of Switzerland’s cantons […]
Coronavirus: 14,000 new cases reported this week in Switzerland
On 16 October 2020, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 3,105 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection over 24 hours, bringing the reported weekly total to 14,054, a figure 135% higher than the week before. Swiss hospitals are admitting more Covid-19 patients. An additional 68 were admitted over the last 24 hours, according to FOPH. […]
Coronavirus: contact tracers now unable to cope in parts of Switzerland
In parts of Switzerland contact tracers can no longer cope with the rising numbers of cases, according the newspaper SonntagsZeitung. Contact tracers have the task of identifying who has been in contact with people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, contacting those people and requesting they test and self isolate in order to break chains of infection. […]
Initiative against Swiss Covid app fails
In July 2020, a group started gathering signatures to launch a public vote to ban Switzerland’s Covid-19 contact tracing app. To launch a referendum in Switzerland organisers must collect 50,000 signatures from eligible voters within 100 days. Organisers of the “Stop Swiss Covid” initiative had until 8 October 2020 to collect 50,000 signatures. According to […]
Coronavirus: more than 4,000 new cases over 3 days in Switzerland
On 12 October 2020, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 4,068 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection over 72 hours. The latest 3-day infection figure is 2.6 times the number over the same period a week ago. Switzerland’s 7-day rolling average daily new infection number has jumped from 469 to 1,215 in a week. In addition, […]
Coronavirus: half would get vaccinated in Switzerland
Around half of the population in Switzerland would voluntarily get vaccinated against Covid-19, according to a survey published by Le Matin. Based on the survey run by Tamedia, 54% of those living in Switzerland would get vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The percentage varied by age. Those over 65 (68%) were keener on receiving a […]
Coronavirus: over 1,000 new cases in a day in Switzerland
On 7 October 2020, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 1,077 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection over 24 hours. The latest daily infection figure, which is 2.6 time the daily number a week ago. represents a significant jump in daily infections. Switzerland’s 7-day rolling average daily new infection number has jumped from 312 […]
Rising numbers struggling to pay rent in Switzerland
Nearly 44% of renters surveyed said that coming up with the money pay rent is now harder than it was before Covid-19, according to ASLOCA, a renters’ association. Following the survey the organisation is calling for more protection against the cancellation of rental contracts and moratoriums on evictions. The main reason cited for the current […]
Coronavirus: events of more than 1,000 people allowed in Switzerland again
On 1 October 2020, Switzerland’s ban on gatherings and events of more than 1,000 people was lifted, seven months after its introduction. The lifting of the ban was agreed by the Federal Council on 2 September 2020. However, all large-scale events must be authorised by the cantonal authorities and measures to prevent viral spread must […]
