Today in Switzerland: A round-up of the latest news on Wednesday
Find out what's going on today in Switzerland with The Local's short roundup of the news.
Good news on the epidemiological front
There are two pieces of uplifting news in Switzerland.
One, “the epidemiological situation is evolving favourably”, according to Virginie Masserey, head of the infection control section of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
She added that the positivity rate, hospitalisations and deaths are continuing to drop.
The second piece of good news is that health officials believe the two vaccines used in Switzerland — Moderna and Pfizer/Biontech — are effective against Covid mutations, including the Indian variant.
READ MORE: Covid-19 update: The stats that show Switzerland is winning the pandemic battle
Driverless car is launched
Switzerland’s first-ever remotely piloted vehicle made its debut in Fribourg. Created by SwissMoves, "a center of excellence for automated mobility," the basic idea of this project is to enhance public transport in remote areas at low cost.
There are currently 14 automated vehicles in Switzerland, but they are not fully autonomous and, for legal reasons, each must be operated by a human driver, said Roland Scherwey, the project’s manager and professor at the Fribourg University of Engineering and Architecture.
Automated vehicles could become a means of serving rural areas, with the addition of new bus routes or on-demand services and 24-hour availability. They would also help reduce the purchase of private vehicles.
Beware of a faulty charger
The three-way "Travel Charger" USB plug-in charger, model "APD1-222" (pictured below), must not be used, as there is a risk of electric shock, according to the Federal Inspectorate of High Current Installations (ESTI).
Consumers who own this product, produced by an unknown manufacturer, are urged to stop using it immediately. They should also inform ESTI about where they purchased the device.
Faster Covid tests at Zurich airport
Time is of essence when travelling, and waiting to get the obligatory Covid test can add some time to the process.
But the new online platform allows applicants to register for a test at Terminal 2 from their home, on the road, or even in the waiting room. In front of the centre itself, the possibility of registration will be indicated by corresponding posters.
Thanks to this new process, the waiting time in front of the test centre is considerably reduced. In addition, the centre offers a new Fast Track service, eliminating any waiting time.
Seasonal fruits and vegetables victims of bad weather
The rainy month of May and low temperatures have delayed the growth of fruits and vegetables in Switzerland.
The strawberries are still green, broccoli and asparagus don’t grow, delaying the harvest by at least 21 days — provided the weather improves.
This means there may be a shortage of certain local produce in Swiss supermarkets, and imported items will be proposed instead.
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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Good news on the epidemiological front
There are two pieces of uplifting news in Switzerland.
One, “the epidemiological situation is evolving favourably”, according to Virginie Masserey, head of the infection control section of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
She added that the positivity rate, hospitalisations and deaths are continuing to drop.
The second piece of good news is that health officials believe the two vaccines used in Switzerland — Moderna and Pfizer/Biontech — are effective against Covid mutations, including the Indian variant.
READ MORE: Covid-19 update: The stats that show Switzerland is winning the pandemic battle
Driverless car is launched
Switzerland’s first-ever remotely piloted vehicle made its debut in Fribourg. Created by SwissMoves, "a center of excellence for automated mobility," the basic idea of this project is to enhance public transport in remote areas at low cost.
There are currently 14 automated vehicles in Switzerland, but they are not fully autonomous and, for legal reasons, each must be operated by a human driver, said Roland Scherwey, the project’s manager and professor at the Fribourg University of Engineering and Architecture.
Automated vehicles could become a means of serving rural areas, with the addition of new bus routes or on-demand services and 24-hour availability. They would also help reduce the purchase of private vehicles.
Beware of a faulty charger
The three-way "Travel Charger" USB plug-in charger, model "APD1-222" (pictured below), must not be used, as there is a risk of electric shock, according to the Federal Inspectorate of High Current Installations (ESTI).
Consumers who own this product, produced by an unknown manufacturer, are urged to stop using it immediately. They should also inform ESTI about where they purchased the device.
Faster Covid tests at Zurich airport
Time is of essence when travelling, and waiting to get the obligatory Covid test can add some time to the process.
But the new online platform allows applicants to register for a test at Terminal 2 from their home, on the road, or even in the waiting room. In front of the centre itself, the possibility of registration will be indicated by corresponding posters.
Thanks to this new process, the waiting time in front of the test centre is considerably reduced. In addition, the centre offers a new Fast Track service, eliminating any waiting time.
Seasonal fruits and vegetables victims of bad weather
The rainy month of May and low temperatures have delayed the growth of fruits and vegetables in Switzerland.
The strawberries are still green, broccoli and asparagus don’t grow, delaying the harvest by at least 21 days — provided the weather improves.
This means there may be a shortage of certain local produce in Swiss supermarkets, and imported items will be proposed instead.
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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