Today in Switzerland: A round-up of the latest news on Tuesday
Find out what's going on in Switzerland today with The Local's short round-up of the news.
Mutated virus infections are on the rise
The number of infections with variants of the coronavirus continues to increase in Switzerland: as of Monday, 4,138 cases had been observed, Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reports. That's 646 more than on Friday.
Of these infections, 1621 are from the British variant of the virus (and 69 from the South African mutation. For the other 2,448 cases, the mutation couldn’t be determined.
A reward for catching poster vandals
Andreas Glarner, a deputy from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) is offering a 2,000-franc reward to anyone who helps identify or catch people who vandalise the party’s posters in support of the anti-burqa referendum.
These posters, placed in public spaces ahead of the March 7th referendum, are systematically damaged, he said.
Unsere Plakate werden von den Gegnern konsequent heruntergerissen und zerstört. Besonders krass ist es in Muttenz: Von 21 Plakaten hängen genau noch deren 4. Ich setze eine Belohnung von CHF 2'000.-- auf die Ergreifung der Täter aus - dieses unwürdige Treiben muss ein Ende haben! pic.twitter.com/gP2VGSfML8
— Andreas Glarner (@andreas_glarner) February 8, 2021
Uncertainty over Covid vaccine supply disrupts the inoculation programme
Because the delivery of both Pfizer/BioNtech and Moderna vaccines is either delayed or supplied in smaller numbers than expected, appointments for the second injection within the time limits prescribed by the health-authorities — that is, four weeks after the first dose — are becoming rare.
READ MORE: Jobs in Switzerland: Which sectors have been hardest hit by the pandemic?
In some cantons, like Vaud, second doses are now routinely scheduled six weeks after the first, though health authorities say the delay will not affect the safety or efficacy of the vaccine.
What's coming up?
It's the winter holidays in Switzerland soon but is anyone actually allowed to go on holiday? And what are the rules and recommendations? We'll be looking into this subject today so keep an eye on the site.
What you might have missed...
There has been a lot of talk about the coronavirus vaccine rollout in Switzerland, but what happens when you show up for your appointment and are ready to roll up your sleeve.
In this article The Local Switzerland journalist Helena Bachmann, who has received her first injection, explains the process.
Contact us:
If you have any news tips for our daily round-up please send them on to us.
And if you have any questions about the news in Switzerland or indeed about anything to do with Switzerland and life in the country then please contact our journalists at [email protected]
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Mutated virus infections are on the rise
The number of infections with variants of the coronavirus continues to increase in Switzerland: as of Monday, 4,138 cases had been observed, Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reports. That's 646 more than on Friday.
Of these infections, 1621 are from the British variant of the virus (and 69 from the South African mutation. For the other 2,448 cases, the mutation couldn’t be determined.
A reward for catching poster vandals
Andreas Glarner, a deputy from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) is offering a 2,000-franc reward to anyone who helps identify or catch people who vandalise the party’s posters in support of the anti-burqa referendum.
These posters, placed in public spaces ahead of the March 7th referendum, are systematically damaged, he said.
Unsere Plakate werden von den Gegnern konsequent heruntergerissen und zerstört. Besonders krass ist es in Muttenz: Von 21 Plakaten hängen genau noch deren 4. Ich setze eine Belohnung von CHF 2'000.-- auf die Ergreifung der Täter aus - dieses unwürdige Treiben muss ein Ende haben! pic.twitter.com/gP2VGSfML8
— Andreas Glarner (@andreas_glarner) February 8, 2021
Uncertainty over Covid vaccine supply disrupts the inoculation programme
Because the delivery of both Pfizer/BioNtech and Moderna vaccines is either delayed or supplied in smaller numbers than expected, appointments for the second injection within the time limits prescribed by the health-authorities — that is, four weeks after the first dose — are becoming rare.
READ MORE: Jobs in Switzerland: Which sectors have been hardest hit by the pandemic?
In some cantons, like Vaud, second doses are now routinely scheduled six weeks after the first, though health authorities say the delay will not affect the safety or efficacy of the vaccine.
What's coming up?
It's the winter holidays in Switzerland soon but is anyone actually allowed to go on holiday? And what are the rules and recommendations? We'll be looking into this subject today so keep an eye on the site.
What you might have missed...
There has been a lot of talk about the coronavirus vaccine rollout in Switzerland, but what happens when you show up for your appointment and are ready to roll up your sleeve.
In this article The Local Switzerland journalist Helena Bachmann, who has received her first injection, explains the process.
Contact us:
If you have any news tips for our daily round-up please send them on to us.
And if you have any questions about the news in Switzerland or indeed about anything to do with Switzerland and life in the country then please contact our journalists at [email protected]
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
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