Tag Archives: Editor’s Choice

© Patrik Slezák | Dreamstime.com On 12 October 2020, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 4,068 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection over 72 hours. The latest 3-day infection figure is 2.6 times the number over the same period a week ago. Switzerland’s 7-day rolling average daily new infection number has jumped from 469 to 1,215 in a week. In addition, the rate of positivity – the percentage of tests coming back positive – continues to rise. The latest...

In July 2020, a group started gathering signatures to launch a public vote to ban Switzerland’s Covid-19 contact tracing app. To launch a referendum in Switzerland organisers must collect 50,000 signatures from eligible voters within 100 days. Organisers of the “Stop Swiss Covid” initiative had until 8 October 2020 to collect 50,000 signatures. According to RTS they failed to reach the required signature milestone. When this happens the vote fails to proceed. The...

© Denis Linine | Dreamstime.com On 7 October 2020, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 1,077 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection over 24 hours. The latest daily infection figure, which is 2.6 time the daily number a week ago. represents a significant jump in daily infections. Switzerland’s 7-day rolling average daily new infection number has jumped from 312 to 632 in a week. In addition, the rate of positivity – the percentage of tests coming back...

Finding a place to rent or buy has never been easy in Switzerland, a real estate market notorious for tight supply of property. © Rosshelen | Dreamstime.comRecently published data from Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office show are rise in vacancy rates from 1.66% to 1.72% in 2020. On 1 June 2019, there were 75,383 vacant properties either for rent or purchase across Switzerland. By 1 June 2020, the figure had risen to 78,832, a rise of close to 5%. Out of the total, 66,320 were...

Official data recently released by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) show it sold 51.5 billion Swiss francs while acquiring US dollar and euro-denominated assets in a bid to weaken the franc over the first quarter of 2020. © Michael Müller | Dreamstime.comThe data followed comments by SNB President Thomas Jordan signalling that even larger interventions may be on the cards in the future. Switzerland’s long-running battle with its overvalued currency has drawn criticism from the US. In...

© Kaspars Grinvalds | Dreamstime.com At the end of 2018, there were 23,000 doctors in Switzerland, according to a recently published study. Overall, 41% of these doctors were women. Among doctors aged 60-64, the percentage was 28%. However, 62% of doctors under 40 were women, a figure which partly reflects the higher numbers of women graduating from Swiss universities. In 2019, significantly more women than men were university graduates in the youngest age band in...

© Ocskay Mark | Dreamstime.com Nearly 44% of renters surveyed said that coming up with the money pay rent is now harder than it was before Covid-19, according to ASLOCA, a renters’ association. Following the survey the organisation is calling for more protection against the cancellation of rental contracts and moratoriums on evictions. The main reason cited for the current financial difficulties faced when paying rent was falling revenue from fewer hours of work,...

© Simon Kadula | Dreamstime.com The number of recorded Covid-19 cases in Switzerland has declined over the last 12 days. Over the most recent 14 days, the number of recorded cases per 100,000 in Switzerland was 59, below the figure of 60 used by the Swiss health authorities to define a region as high risk. 12 days ago on 20 September, the same rate was 67 per 100,000. The French-speaking canton of Vaud, Switzerland’s most recent Covid-19 hotspot, has recently seen...

Demand for second homes has risen since restrictions related to coronavirus were loosened, according to real estate company Wüest Partner. © Roland Van Der Meeren | Dreamstime.comThe option of remote working appears to be encouraging some to trade time in central city locations for more time in Alpine resorts, the countryside, commuter regions and smaller cities. The prices of second homes have risen 3.6% over the last 12 months, according to firm. Demand for independent houses in...

Nearly 44% of renters surveyed said that coming up with the money pay rent is now harder than it was before Covid-19, according to ASLOCA, a renters’ association. © Ocskay Mark | Dreamstime.comFollowing the survey the organisation is calling for more protection against the cancellation of rental contracts and moratoriums on evictions. The main reason cited for the current financial difficulties faced when paying rent was falling revenue from fewer hours of work, partial business...