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 A resurgence of Covid-19 cases in Europe, this time driven by new, fast-spreading Omicron subvariants, is once again threatening to disrupt people's summer plans. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220622/covid-subvariants-cast-shadow-over-european-summer Wed, 22 Jun 2022 18:08:14 +0200 covid-subvariants-cast-shadow-over-european-summer Although epidemiologists believe the pandemic in Switzerland has likely reached its peak, the number of Covid cases continues to climb. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220127/too-early-to-celebrate-omicron-still-holds-switzerland-in-its-grip Thu, 27 Jan 2022 12:12:37 +0100 too-early-to-celebrate-omicron-still-holds-switzerland-in-its-grip The Omicron variant has moved the Covid-19 pandemic into a new phase and could bring it to an end in Europe, the WHO Europe director said on Monday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220124/why-europe-could-be-headed-for-pandemic-endgame Mon, 24 Jan 2022 11:51:13 +0100 why-europe-could-be-headed-for-pandemic-endgame Soaring infections but stable hospitalisation and death rates: this is what the epidemiological situation looks like this week across Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220120/reasonably-optimistic-are-switzerlands-covid-hotspots-cooling-down-at-last Thu, 20 Jan 2022 12:00:48 +0100 reasonably-optimistic-are-switzerlands-covid-hotspots-cooling-down-at-last Despite some teething problems, Switzerland’s Covid booster campaign is in full swing. New data shows the effectiveness of booster shots in preventing infection and death. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220119/covid-in-switzerland-how-common-are-hospitalisations-and-deaths-among-the-boosted Wed, 19 Jan 2022 15:34:31 +0100 covid-in-switzerland-how-common-are-hospitalisations-and-deaths-among-the-boosted As Omicron is spreading like wildfire through Switzerland, contaminating a record number of people, health authorities are sounding the alarm about the rapidly deteriorating epidemiological situation. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220106/covid-situation-in-switzerland-worsens-amid-unprecedented-explosion-of-cases Thu, 06 Jan 2022 12:35:40 +0100 covid-situation-in-switzerland-worsens-amid-unprecedented-explosion-of-cases Although the number of Covid cases is skyrocketing in Switzerland, the figures for hospital admissions have remained comparatively stable. This is why. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220104/why-hospitalisations-in-switzerland-are-not-increasing-despite-soaring-infections Tue, 04 Jan 2022 15:33:19 +0100 why-hospitalisations-in-switzerland-are-not-increasing-despite-soaring-infections Europe has recorded over 100 million coronavirus cases, more than a third of all infections worldwide, since the start of the pandemic, an AFP tally Saturday showed. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220102/europe-tops-100-million-covid-cases-afp-tally Sun, 02 Jan 2022 11:35:17 +0100 europe-tops-100-million-covid-cases-afp-tally European countries are battling a huge spike in Covid infections driven by the Omicron variant but some countries are hit worse than others and strategies to fight the pandemic vary. Here's a run-through of the state of play as 2021 draws to a close. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211231/compare-how-europe-is-ending-2021-with-record-covid-rates-and-new-restrictions Fri, 31 Dec 2021 10:48:15 +0100 compare-how-europe-is-ending-2021-with-record-covid-rates-and-new-restrictions As the year is drawing to a close, Switzerland is registering the highest-ever number of Covid cases. This is where the hotspots are right now. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211230/covid-hotspots-why-switzerlands-situation-is-extremely-unfavourable Thu, 30 Dec 2021 13:19:10 +0100 covid-hotspots-why-switzerlands-situation-is-extremely-unfavourable The new variant is spreading like wildfire across Switzerland and is especially prevalent in three cantons. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211227/in-numbers-which-swiss-cantons-have-most-omicron-cases Mon, 27 Dec 2021 15:36:13 +0100 in-numbers-which-swiss-cantons-have-most-omicron-cases As 2021 is coming to an end and the new year is just around the corner, Swiss health experts predict higher infection rates in January. But there is some promising news for 2022 as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211227/20000-cases-per-day-experts-draw-covid-forecast-for-switzerland Mon, 27 Dec 2021 13:11:35 +0100 20000-cases-per-day-experts-draw-covid-forecast-for-switzerland The rising number of cases of Covid-19 in Europe is of "grave concern" and the region could see another half a million deaths by early next year, the World Health Organization warned on Thursday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211104/europe-could-see-500000-more-covid-deaths-by-early-2022-who-warns Thu, 04 Nov 2021 13:51:42 +0100 europe-could-see-500000-more-covid-deaths-by-early-2022-who-warns There is (relatively) good news and bad news on the Covid front in Switzerland. This is what you should know about both. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210917/vaccinations-to-hospital-numbers-how-the-covid-situation-is-evolving-in-switzerland Fri, 17 Sep 2021 17:23:58 +0200 vaccinations-to-hospital-numbers-how-the-covid-situation-is-evolving-in-switzerland Switzerland has been lagging behind its neighbours in terms of the percentage of residents fully vaccinated against Covid. What is the situation in individual cantons? https://www.thelocal.ch/20210825/which-swiss-cantons-have-the-highest-and-lowest-vaccination-rate-and-why Wed, 25 Aug 2021 14:11:13 +0200 which-swiss-cantons-have-the-highest-and-lowest-vaccination-rate-and-why European health officials are calling on countries to step up free testing and contact tracing to fight the Delta variant of Covid-19. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210723/european-health-authorities-warn-of-surge-in-delta-variant-infections Fri, 23 Jul 2021 18:41:46 +0200 european-health-authorities-warn-of-surge-in-delta-variant-infections The World Health Organization on Thursday said Covid cases were on the rise again in Europe and called for better monitoring of the movement of spectators attending Euro 2020 football matches. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210701/covid-cases-on-the-rise-in-europe-once-again-as-who-warns-of-euro-2020-risk Thu, 01 Jul 2021 15:57:47 +0200 covid-cases-on-the-rise-in-europe-once-again-as-who-warns-of-euro-2020-risk The number of coronavirus infections has been rising in Switzerland in the past weeks. What are the reasons for this upward trend? https://www.thelocal.ch/20200727/why-is-the-number-of-covid-19-infections-in-switzerland-on-the-rise Mon, 27 Jul 2020 12:01:56 +0200 why-is-the-number-of-covid-19-infections-in-switzerland-on-the-rise