https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed While many of us have not even received a notification that we can get the vaccine, at least one reader was called up - only to be told they need to wait longer. Why? https://www.thelocal.ch/20210419/reader-question-why-was-i-refused-a-vaccine-in-the-swiss-canton-of-geneva-despite-an-sms-invitation Mon, 19 Apr 2021 16:01:36 +0200 reader-question-why-was-i-refused-a-vaccine-in-the-swiss-canton-of-geneva-despite-an-sms-invitation Starting on Monday March 15th, each Swiss resident is entitled to five free self-tests per month. But is this really happening? https://www.thelocal.ch/20210315/update-what-is-the-situation-with-free-covid-19-tests-in-switzerland Mon, 15 Mar 2021 13:50:23 +0100 update-what-is-the-situation-with-free-covid-19-tests-in-switzerland The head of the European Commission vaccines task force, Thierry Breton, unveiled the first European "health passport" on Sunday, claiming he hopes Europe will have a summer season "comparable to last year". https://www.thelocal.ch/20210328/eu-vaccine-chief-hopes-for-tourism-boost-as-he-unveils-covid-19-passport Sun, 28 Mar 2021 17:35:17 +0200 eu-vaccine-chief-hopes-for-tourism-boost-as-he-unveils-covid-19-passport In many Swiss cantons, the general public can already register for the coronavirus vaccination. The appointments will be based on ‘first come, first served’ basis. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210305/first-come-first-served-how-to-get-the-vaccine-sooner-in-switzerland Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:45:00 +0100 first-come-first-served-how-to-get-the-vaccine-sooner-in-switzerland As Switzerland requires all arrivals to present a negative Covid test, many people are confused about which of the two types — PCR or antigen — is required. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210324/reader-question-are-antigen-tests-results-allowed-for-entry-into-switzerland Wed, 24 Mar 2021 12:10:15 +0100 reader-question-are-antigen-tests-results-allowed-for-entry-into-switzerland Swiss pharma giant Roche announced Tuesday "positive" results from clinical trials of an anti-Covid cocktail developed with US biotech firm Regeneron. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210323/switzerlands-roche-reports-promising-results-from-anti-covid-cocktail Tue, 23 Mar 2021 09:46:24 +0100 switzerlands-roche-reports-promising-results-from-anti-covid-cocktail This week has not been good in terms of coronavirus infections in Switzerland. But there’s positive news as well: the number of hospitalisations and deaths has not gone up. Here is an overview of the current situation. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210319/a-new-wave-concern-in-switzerland-as-covid-numbers-continue-to-climb Fri, 19 Mar 2021 12:06:49 +0100 a-new-wave-concern-in-switzerland-as-covid-numbers-continue-to-climb Could the rising number of infections in Switzerland signal the resurgence of coronavirus? This is what the situation is right now. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210312/covid-19-is-switzerland-entering-the-third-wave-of-the-pandemic Fri, 12 Mar 2021 12:38:30 +0100 covid-19-is-switzerland-entering-the-third-wave-of-the-pandemic The Swiss will vote in June on the validity of a law giving the government new powers to impose lockdowns and other restrictions to rein in Covid-19, Bern said Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210304/swiss-to-vote-in-june-on-governments-covid-restrictions Thu, 04 Mar 2021 08:48:58 +0100 swiss-to-vote-in-june-on-governments-covid-restrictions Germany, which is known for strict budgets, has tapped debt markets to prop up its virus-hit economy, while neighbouring Switzerland has consistently curbed borrowing despite calls to change course. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210221/swiss-spooked-by-using-debt-to-prop-up-economy Sun, 21 Feb 2021 11:52:24 +0100 swiss-spooked-by-using-debt-to-prop-up-economy The World Health Organization in Europe Wednesday urged families to wear face masks during this year's Christmas family gatherings, as it warned of a "further resurgence" of Covid-19 in early 2021. https://www.thelocal.ch/20201216/who-warns-of-covid-19-resurgence-and-ask-families-to-wear-face-masks-during-christmas-celebrations Wed, 16 Dec 2020 13:43:22 +0100 who-warns-of-covid-19-resurgence-and-ask-families-to-wear-face-masks-during-christmas-celebrations In addition to two national initiatives, voters in three German-speaking cantons will decide on local issues driven by the Covid-19 pandemic. https://www.thelocal.ch/20201119/explained-what-coronavirus-related-issues-will-be-voted-on-november-29th Thu, 19 Nov 2020 12:58:23 +0100 explained-what-coronavirus-related-issues-will-be-voted-on-november-29th Police stepped in Saturday to shield health workers gathered in Bern to demand better working conditions, after protesters against fresh virus restrictions tried to disrupt their demonstration. https://www.thelocal.ch/20201101/swiss-protests-for-health-worker-rights-against-virus-restrictions Sun, 01 Nov 2020 09:54:43 +0100 swiss-protests-for-health-worker-rights-against-virus-restrictions Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Novartis has decided to halt a clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19, citing problems in recruiting enough patients for the study of the controversial drug. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200621/swiss-giant-novartis-halts-covid-19-hydroxychloroquine-study Sun, 21 Jun 2020 10:21:31 +0200 swiss-giant-novartis-halts-covid-19-hydroxychloroquine-study