On 3 December 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Council announced tighter restrictions from Monday. From 6 December 2021, Covid certificates will be required for more activities and mask wearing will be extended, said the government. In addition, the validity of rapid antigen tests will be reduced and people will be urged to work from home. Infection rates […]
A Covid patient can cost more than 100,000 francs in Switzerland
From 8 December 2021, anyone in Singapore treated for Covid-19 who has not been vaccinated will need to cover the cost of their own treatment. In Switzerland, similar ideas were raised by Swiss parliamentarian Kurt Fluri in July 2021 and by Mauro Poggia, Geneva’s health minister in August 2021. Covid patients not only reduce the […]
Covid: getting a booster shot in Switzerland
On 26 November 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) recommended everyone 16 and over get booster shots. However, Switzerland’s cantons are not yet ready to provide boosters to all those aged 16 to 64 and start dates differ. In Switzerland, boosters are being given at least six months after second shots. However, in […]
Covid: 2,000 in quarantine after 2 cases of Omicron detected at Swiss school
Around 2,000 people have been placed in quarantine after two cases of Omicron, the latest variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, were detected in a school in Switzerland, reported the canton of Geneva. On 2 December 2021, two cases of Omicron were detected on the campus of the International School of Geneva based in the commune […]
Majority of Swiss in favour of compulsory vaccination, according to poll
According to poll results published over the weekend, 53% of those surveyed in Switzerland were in favour of making Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory, a percentage that rose to 69% for those working in the health sector, reported 20 Minutes. Overall, the percentage supporting compulsory vaccination was higher in German-speaking Switzerland (53.4%) than among French speakers (50.2%). […]
Swiss anti-vaccine anti-pass activist in coma due to Covid-19
Well-known activist François de Siebenthal is in intensive care at the CHUV hospital in Lausanne after catching the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reported 24 Heures and RTS. The 65-year-old proponent of numerous conspiracy theories has spent months comparing Covid-19 to the flu and protesting against Switzerland’s contact tracing app, Covid certificates and vaccine rules, reported RTS. He […]
Switzerland bans flights from southern Africa
Flights to Switzerland from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa have been halted, reported RTS. In addition, anyone arriving in Switzerland from Hong Kong, Israel or Belgium, must now show a negative Covid test and quarantine for 10 days, announced the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) on 26 November 2021. Entry […]
Covid: Swiss government warns cantons to prepare as new cases rise 41% in a week
This week, 42,518 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Switzerland, up 41% from the 30,254 recorded the week before. On a 7-day moving average basis the number of daily new cases was 6,074. Daily case numbers are not far from last winter’s peak. So far, similarly high case numbers have not translated into the same level of hospitalisation […]
Numerous complaints filed against vote on Swiss Covid rules
On 28 November 2021, Swiss voters will cast votes on whether to reverse some of Switzerland’s Covid laws in one of the nations most divisive votes. In the run up to the referendum, numerous complaints have been filed over how it is being handled. A number of those opposed to the government’s Covid measures are […]
Covid: Vaud brings back masks in schools
On 25 November 2021, the government of the canton of Vaud announced the return of measures to slow the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The measures include reintroducing masks at school and accelerating the rollout of booster shots. The government said that the canton is at the beginning of a new wave of infection and […]