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Today in Switzerland: A round-up of the latest news on Thursday

Helena Bachmann
Helena Bachmann - [email protected]
Today in Switzerland: A round-up of the latest news on Thursday
A hand moves 100 Swiss francs notes with 1000 Swiss francs notes as background on October 27, 2008 in Lausanne. The Swiss franc was being traded at a historic high point of 1.43 franc against the euro on Monday as investors turned to the franc for protection and recession concerns weighed down on the eurozone. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)

Find out what's going on today in Switzerland with The Local's short roundup of the news.

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Large-scale events may be permitted this summer

If the epidemiological situation in Switzerland allows it, concerts, festivals and other major events for up to 3,000 people could be permitted again from July, the Federal Council announced.

And if the pandemic remains under control throughout the summer, then events with up to 10,000 participants could be authorised in September.

“There are good reasons for optimism”, president Guy Parmelin said at the conference.

The Local will publish an article today explaining what conditions should be met for large events to be authorised.

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Home sweet home: Where do the Swiss want to live now?

During the pandemic, more and more people in Switzerland wanted to move away from crowded cities and live in single-family homes in a countryside or a rural area.

This just one of the findings of a new Swiss study which examined how the coronavirus changed and re-defined people’s housing priorities.

Read our story today about what kind of properties — and where — are most in demand in  Switzerland right now.

READ MORE: Why are Geneva’s rents the highest in Switzerland?

Swiss National Bank recalls old banknotes

From now on, the old banknotes will no longer be accepted in Switzerland.  The Swiss National Bank  (SNB) has started a recall for the banknotes of the 8th banknote series from 1998. As of April 30th, 2021, “the banknotes lose their status as legal tender and can no longer be used for payment purposes”, the SNB announced.

Nevertheless, the notes can be exchanged at the cash offices of the SNB in ​​Bern or Zurich in person or by mail.

This instruction sheet explains how to exchange recalled banknotes.

A quarter of Switzerland’s residents experienced financial difficulties during pandemic

For its second study on the financial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) surveyed 25,000 people in 25 countries.

The average of 31 percent of respondents in all countries said they suffered financial strife, which is higher than the roughly 25 percent in Switzerland.  

To cope with this situation, 14.5 percent of respondents in Switzerland had recourse to their savings and other reserves.

In regards to unemployment, 11 percent of study participants living in Switzerland said they or a member of their household lost their job during the pandemic, slightly less than 11.8 percent in other countries.

 

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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