Today in Switzerland: A round-up of the latest news on Thursday
Find out what's going on today in Switzerland with The Local's short roundup of the news.
More information about the immunity passport
The final decision about the pass will be made on June 18th, but the first certificates will be issued in stages, starting already on June 7th “so that the entire population can benefit from them no later than the end of June, when the first measures related to the use of the certificate will come into force”, Health Minister Alain Berset said.
He explained it will be primarily intended for international travel and major events, but “will not affect public transport, shops or the workplace”.
“It will not be a vaccination certificate but a certificate of non-contagiousness “, Berset added.
READ MORE: UPDATED: Everything you need to know about the ‘green pass’, Switzerland’s coronavirus immunity card
SWISS airline tests a new digital health certificate
The flagship carrier will test the functionality of this new digital solution in the form of a wallet containing vaccination and test certificates.
It requires no application downloads and meets the strictest data protection guidelines. It allows travelers to store and administer in a digital wallet their vaccination and test certificates that are transmitted directly to their mobile devices by test centres and affiliated laboratories.
This way passengers can present airlines and authorities with proof that they meet the conditions for entry into the country without having to disclose other health information. The encrypted barcode of the certification system will also speed up and optimise the relevant airport processes.
All lights off, to better appreciate the night
On May 21st, 290 municipalities in the French-speaking cantons will turn off their public lighting to raise awareness of light pollution.
The participating communities include 98 in the French Genevois, 45 in the canton of Geneva and 35 in Vaud.
Cities of Delémont, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Bulle, Yverdon-les-Bains, Lausanne and Sierre will also go dark on that night.
Swiss drink more alcohol than the OECD average
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) compared the alcohol consumption levels of 52 countries and found that the Swiss drink more alcohol than average.
“People in Switzerland consume 11.5 liters of pure alcohol per capita per year, roughly the equivalent of 2.4 bottles of wine or 4.4 litres of beer per week per person aged 15 and over”, the report says.
Among the Swiss population. 35.6 percent of adults binge-drinking alcohol at least once a month. This corresponds to drinking more than 80 percent of a bottle of wine, or 1.5 litres of beer, each time.
And now for the ‘awww’ moment…
The wires of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) seem to be very popular with storks, who sometimes build their nests too close to conductor cables.
Recently, a couple of storks were building a nest on the mast of a transmission cable between Rotkreuz and Hendschiken, according Hanspeter Dürig, whose job at SBB involves not only wire maintanence, but also ensuring the storks’ safety.
"As the eggs were already in the nest, it was no longer possible to move them", Dürig said.
To keep everyone safe in the nest, the longest branches were cut to reduce the danger, and the electrical conductors above and below the nesting site have been provisionally isolated, SBB said in a press release.
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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More information about the immunity passport
The final decision about the pass will be made on June 18th, but the first certificates will be issued in stages, starting already on June 7th “so that the entire population can benefit from them no later than the end of June, when the first measures related to the use of the certificate will come into force”, Health Minister Alain Berset said.
He explained it will be primarily intended for international travel and major events, but “will not affect public transport, shops or the workplace”.
“It will not be a vaccination certificate but a certificate of non-contagiousness “, Berset added.
READ MORE: UPDATED: Everything you need to know about the ‘green pass’, Switzerland’s coronavirus immunity card
SWISS airline tests a new digital health certificate
The flagship carrier will test the functionality of this new digital solution in the form of a wallet containing vaccination and test certificates.
It requires no application downloads and meets the strictest data protection guidelines. It allows travelers to store and administer in a digital wallet their vaccination and test certificates that are transmitted directly to their mobile devices by test centres and affiliated laboratories.
This way passengers can present airlines and authorities with proof that they meet the conditions for entry into the country without having to disclose other health information. The encrypted barcode of the certification system will also speed up and optimise the relevant airport processes.
All lights off, to better appreciate the night
On May 21st, 290 municipalities in the French-speaking cantons will turn off their public lighting to raise awareness of light pollution.
The participating communities include 98 in the French Genevois, 45 in the canton of Geneva and 35 in Vaud.
Cities of Delémont, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Bulle, Yverdon-les-Bains, Lausanne and Sierre will also go dark on that night.
Swiss drink more alcohol than the OECD average
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) compared the alcohol consumption levels of 52 countries and found that the Swiss drink more alcohol than average.
“People in Switzerland consume 11.5 liters of pure alcohol per capita per year, roughly the equivalent of 2.4 bottles of wine or 4.4 litres of beer per week per person aged 15 and over”, the report says.
Among the Swiss population. 35.6 percent of adults binge-drinking alcohol at least once a month. This corresponds to drinking more than 80 percent of a bottle of wine, or 1.5 litres of beer, each time.
And now for the ‘awww’ moment…
The wires of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) seem to be very popular with storks, who sometimes build their nests too close to conductor cables.
Recently, a couple of storks were building a nest on the mast of a transmission cable between Rotkreuz and Hendschiken, according Hanspeter Dürig, whose job at SBB involves not only wire maintanence, but also ensuring the storks’ safety.
"As the eggs were already in the nest, it was no longer possible to move them", Dürig said.
To keep everyone safe in the nest, the longest branches were cut to reduce the danger, and the electrical conductors above and below the nesting site have been provisionally isolated, SBB said in a press release.
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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