Today in Switzerland: A round-up of the latest news on Monday
Find out what's going on in Switzerland today with The Local's short round-up of the news.
Strong reactions to extended restaurant closures
After government’s announcement on Friday that restaurants will remain closed for the time being — despite widespread expectations they would re-open on March 22nd — business associations and some political parties expressed disappointment at the Federal Council’s decision.
The Local will publish an article today about the reactions that the decisions sparked in Switzerland.
READ MORE: Switzerland to extend measures to fight Covid-19 ‘third wave'
Business groups demand a digital Coronavirus Pass by summer
In a joint letter to the Federal Council, EconomieSuisse, Gastrosuisse, as well as USS and USAM trade unions call for several measures to get the country out of the pandemic as quickly as possible.
These measures include vaccination as well as steps to ensure that everyone who wants to is inoculated by July.
Another measure is free, large-scale testing, along with ensuring more security in the supply of drugs and medical equipment, and digital Covid pass, required to participate in major sporting, outdoor and other large events.
Calls for a digital passport are growing. Photo by AFP
Hospitals face new bottlenecks because of coronaskeptics
A new wave of unvaccinated Covid patients is expected in Swiss hospitals in the summer, health authorities say.
In order to achieve herd immunity, about 80 percent of the whole population should be inoculated. But given high number of anti-vaxxers – people who are opposed to vaccinations – outbreaks will continue to happen and hospitals are expected to experience an influx of patients suffering from corona-related complications.
A survey conducted by the Link research institute shows that only one in four people in French-speaking Switzerland want to be vaccinated. The number is higher among German-speaking people, where one in two is ready to get the shot.
The Swiss are among the happiest people in earth
Switzerland was named the third happiest country in the world, after Finland and Denmark, in a global study co-sponsored by the United Nations.
Although the annual study has been conducted since 2012, this is the first year researchers focused on the effects of Covid-19 on the quality of people’s lives, the authors said.
You can see the ranking of all countries here.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local please get in touch with us at [email protected]
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Strong reactions to extended restaurant closures
After government’s announcement on Friday that restaurants will remain closed for the time being — despite widespread expectations they would re-open on March 22nd — business associations and some political parties expressed disappointment at the Federal Council’s decision.
The Local will publish an article today about the reactions that the decisions sparked in Switzerland.
READ MORE: Switzerland to extend measures to fight Covid-19 ‘third wave'
Business groups demand a digital Coronavirus Pass by summer
In a joint letter to the Federal Council, EconomieSuisse, Gastrosuisse, as well as USS and USAM trade unions call for several measures to get the country out of the pandemic as quickly as possible.
These measures include vaccination as well as steps to ensure that everyone who wants to is inoculated by July.
Another measure is free, large-scale testing, along with ensuring more security in the supply of drugs and medical equipment, and digital Covid pass, required to participate in major sporting, outdoor and other large events.
Calls for a digital passport are growing. Photo by AFP
Hospitals face new bottlenecks because of coronaskeptics
A new wave of unvaccinated Covid patients is expected in Swiss hospitals in the summer, health authorities say.
In order to achieve herd immunity, about 80 percent of the whole population should be inoculated. But given high number of anti-vaxxers – people who are opposed to vaccinations – outbreaks will continue to happen and hospitals are expected to experience an influx of patients suffering from corona-related complications.
A survey conducted by the Link research institute shows that only one in four people in French-speaking Switzerland want to be vaccinated. The number is higher among German-speaking people, where one in two is ready to get the shot.
The Swiss are among the happiest people in earth
Switzerland was named the third happiest country in the world, after Finland and Denmark, in a global study co-sponsored by the United Nations.
Although the annual study has been conducted since 2012, this is the first year researchers focused on the effects of Covid-19 on the quality of people’s lives, the authors said.
You can see the ranking of all countries here.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local please get in touch with us at [email protected]
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