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 […]
Swiss consumer sentiment at historic low, according to government survey
Consumer sentiment in Switzerland in April 2020 reached a historic low. The coronavirus has dampened expectations for general economic development and employment and the population is bracing itself for tough financial times, according to the survey. Swiss consumer sentiment fell from −9 points in January 2020 to −39 points in April 2020, a level well […]
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 […]
Coronavirus: if it had spread to as many in Switzerland as it did in New York City
A number of countries have managed to stem the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Island nations that moved swiftly, like New Zealand and Iceland, reported no new cases of infection yesterday. Some observers, looking at the low number of Covid-19 deaths in places like Iceland (10) and New Zealand (20), are describing the recent restrictions on businesses […]
Recent research contradicts Swiss government view that children rarely transmit Covid-19
The Swiss government has decided to reopen schools on 11 May 2020. Behind the decision is a belief that children do not play a major role in transmission of the virus. Switzerland’s federal governments says children rarely fall ill, and when they do they present few to no symptoms and rarely transmit the virus. Speaking […]
Coronavirus: small resurgence in new case numbers in Switzerland
Between Saturday 25 April and Wednesday 29 April 2020, the daily number of new cases in Switzerland fell consistently. On Saturday there were 217 new cases, on Sunday there were 167, on Monday 103 and on Tuesday 100. However, on Wednesday the number of new daily cases rose to 143, rising further to 179 on […]
