Tourism is one of the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus and the response to it. Figures from a study by HES-SO Valais published by the newspaper Blick suggest the industry will see revenues in Switzerland drop 18%, or CHF 6.4 billion, in 2020. The hotel sector alone, which generates around CHF 10 billion annually, […]
Coronavirus: loss of smell indicates “very high likelihood” of infection
While there is currently no scientifically proven link between anosmia (loss of smell) and Covid-19, more and more experts are saying the symptom is a strong indicator, particularly among those with few other symptoms. Gilbert Greub, head of the microbiology department at the CHUV hospital in Lausanne, is one such expert. “Given the widespread Covid-19 […]
Switzerland’s small companies rush to get interest free government loans
One third of the CHF 20 billion offered to small and medium sized Swiss companies has already been lent, according to RTS. The scheme, designed to help keep companies afloat during the coronavirus shutdown, allows banks to issue risk-free loans guaranteed by Switzerland’s federal government. So far banks across the country have made 30,000 loans […]
Coronavirus: why Switzerland’s high test rate is unlikely to contain the spread
By 30 March 2020, Switzerland had conducted 116,700 tests for Covid-19, a rate of 13,600 per million. The number of cases continues to rise in Switzerland. On 30 March 2020, Switzerland recorded 1,201 new cases bringing the total to 15,922. However, because of test rationing, Switzerland’s recorded case figure is an unknown percentage of the […]
Coronavirus: the fallibility of fatality rates
Naturally, many of us would like to know the fatality rate of Covid-19. But at this stage it is guesswork. Here are some of the problems with the most popular fatality rate calculations. The most popular calculation involves dividing the number deaths by the number of cases. Epidemiologists sometimes call this a naive case fatality […]
Coronavirus: Swiss test rate now higher than South Korea’s
On 26 March 2020, Switzerland’s federal government announced the number of Covid-19 tests conducted so far in Switzerland. South Korea, a nation often cited among those with high test rates, now trails Switzerland on the number per capita tests it has conducted. By 26 March 2020, South Korea had conducted 364,942 tests, a rate of […]
Coronavirus: a test to see if you’ve had it now in the pipeline
Coronavirus testing has been rationed in Switzerland, reserving it for high risk more severe cases, although doctors retain discretion to have anyone tested. It is likely, although some uncertainty remains, that those who have been infected and have recovered will have immunity and no longer be able to act as carriers of the disease. However, […]
Coronavirus: more than 12,000 cases in Switzerland
By mid afternoon on 27 March 2020, Switzerland had 12,331 recorded cases of Covid-19. Only seven other countries had more cases. USA (85k), China (81k), Italy (81k), Spain (64k), Germany (47k), Iran (32k) and France (29k) all had more recorded cases than Switzerland. Switzerland, with 13.9 cases per 10,000, led the world in per capita […]
Coronavirus: Verbier emerging as a Covid-19 hotspot
A doctor in the resort has sounded the alarm after a jump in the number of positive cases in the municipality of Bagnes, where Verbier is located, according to the newspaper Le Nouvelliste. Local doctor Sabine Popescu said “after we receive the next round of results, we expect around 60 people will have tested […]
Coronavirus: infection rates in some Swiss cantons now higher than Lombardy
Lombardy, the region in northern Italy where the coronavirus outbreak first took off in Europe, now has fewer per capita cases testing positive for the virus than some Swiss cantons. Recent data from Italy show there were 221 cases per 100,000 in Lombardy. In Ticino, Switzerland’s worst affected canton, there were 477 cases per 100,000, […]
