Over the third quarter of 2020, home prices in Switzerland rose by an average of 0.2%. However, the prices of some homes rose while others fell. © Sergey Dzyuba | Dreamstime.comAccording to figures published by Switzerland’s federal statistical office, the price of individual houses rose 1.1% while the price of apartments fell by 0.6%. The price rise for individual houses was particularly high in suburban areas near large cities (+2.6%) and in rural communes (+2.2%). Apartments in...
Read More »Covid, November 27: French-speaking Switzerland to reopen retail and restaurants
The SARS-CoV-2 virus has hit French-speaking Switzerland harder than the rest of Switzerland both before and since summer. 44% of Swiss Covid-19 deaths have occurred in the cantons of Valais, Vaud, Geneva, Fribourg and Neuchâtel, despite making up only 25% of the country’s population. Daily New Deaths in Switzerland, November 27 Source: worldometers.info - Click to enlarge At a recent press conference, Martin Ackermann, head of the Covid-19 scientific Task Force,...
Read More »Covid, November 24: Switzerland’s infection rate continued to slow over the weekend
Over the weekend, Switzerland averaged 3,250 new daily recorded cases (9,751 over 72 hours). This represents a significant drop from the daily peak of 10,128 cases reported on 5 November 2020. The 7-day moving average number of new cases in Switzerland is currently more than 40% below the peak around 2.5 weeks ago. Cases in Schweiz, November 24 Source: corona-data.ch - Click to enlarge At the same time Switzerland’s hospitals remain under pressure and the death...
Read More »Covid: only the vaccinated get to travel abroad, suggests Swiss infectious disease expert
Resistance to vaccinations is significant in Switzerland. A survey done in November 2020 suggests only 16% of the population would get vaccinated immediately if there was an approved Covid-19 vaccine, reported 20 Minutes. More than a quarter (28%) of those surveyed said they would refuse, leaving a majority who said they would decide at some point in the future. Switzerland’s government has made it clear that Covid-19 vaccines will not be compulsory. However,...
Read More »Swiss government promises one billion francs for Covid hit businesses
© Mcxas | Dreamstime.com This week, Switzerland’s federal government decided to increase aid money to Covid hit businesses to CHF 1 billion. Before this announcement, Bern had already committed to providing CHF 400 million to struggling businesses. Funding for the first CHF 400 million is split 50-50 between cantonal and federal tax payers. The additional CHF 600 million will be funded 80% out of the federal tax pot and 20% out of cantonal tax revenues. This means in...
Read More »Coronavirus biggest concern among Swiss, according to survey
© Artmim | Dreamstime.com The coronavirus pandemic and its consequences rank at the top of the list of Swiss concerns in 2020, according to a recent survey. This is the first time in the history of the Crédit Suisse Worry Barometer that a new issue has topped the list of people’s worries. Following in second and third place on the worry list were the state retirement provision and the issue of unemployment. A sample of Swiss citizens were asked to list their top five...
Read More »Easyjet makes first loss in its history
This week, Easyjet announced its first ever annual loss of nearly £1.3 billion, its only loss in 25 years of operating. © Dennis Dolkens | Dreamstime.comAs Covid-19 grounded the airline’s planes, revenue disappeared. Revenues for the year to 30 September 2020, were reduced to £3 billion, only 47% of the £6.4 billion earned the year before. Costs were cut by £1.7 billion from £6.0 billion to £4.3 billion, a drop of 28%. However, this was not enough to cover the £3.4 billion fall in...
Read More »Swiss government promises one billion francs for Covid hit businesses
This week, Switzerland’s federal government decided to increase aid money to Covid hit businesses to CHF 1 billion. © Mcxas | Dreamstime.comBefore this announcement, Bern had already committed to providing CHF 400 million to struggling businesses. Funding for the first CHF 400 million is split 50-50 between cantonal and federal tax payers. The additional CHF 600 million will be funded 80% out of the federal tax pot and 20% out of cantonal tax revenues. This means in aggregate 68% of...
Read More »Covid, November 19: Swiss ICU numbers reach new peak as infection rate moderates
Deaths because of and with Covid19 Over the last 48 hours, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported a further 227 deaths among laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases, bringing the death toll to 1,654 since summer and 3,385 since the beginning of the year. Total Covid-19 deaths in Switzerland since the beginning of the pandemic have now reached 3,696 of which 3,385 were laboratory confirmed infections. Hospitalisations The are currently 543 Covid-19...
Read More »Covid, November 16: 198 deaths in Switzerland over weekend as infection rate slows
Deaths because of and with Covid19 Over the last 72 hours, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 198 deaths among laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases, bringing the death toll to 1,427 since summer and 3,158 since the beginning of the year. Total Covid-19 deaths in Switzerland since the beginning of the pandemic have now reached 3,496 of which 3,158 were laboratory confirmed infections. Hospitalisations At 4,000, the number of hospitalised...
Read More »