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 Some in Switzerland praised the government’s decision on Wednesday to ease some of the Covid-19 restrictions, while others warned about possible dire consequences. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210415/walking-a-tightrope-swiss-react-to-government-lifting-shutdown-measures Thu, 15 Apr 2021 12:43:44 +0200 walking-a-tightrope-swiss-react-to-government-lifting-shutdown-measures The Federal Council will announce on Wednesday afternoon whether some of the measures implemented in Switzerland in January will be eased or remain in place. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210414/decision-day-is-the-swiss-government-ready-to-lift-restrictions Wed, 14 Apr 2021 12:20:54 +0200 decision-day-is-the-swiss-government-ready-to-lift-restrictions While some in Switzerland praised the government’s decision not to re-open restaurants on March 22nd, others expressed disappointment at extended closures. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210322/reaction-what-do-the-swiss-think-about-the-extended-shutdown Mon, 22 Mar 2021 12:03:54 +0100 reaction-what-do-the-swiss-think-about-the-extended-shutdown Switzerland’s food establishments have been closed since December 22nd and will remain shuttered until at least the end of February. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210127/restaurants-and-bar-owners-in-switzerland-are-in-despair-over-closures Wed, 27 Jan 2021 11:44:24 +0100 restaurants-and-bar-owners-in-switzerland-are-in-despair-over-closures A number of restaurant owners in Switzerland are resuming their activities on Monday, January 11th, in violation of current coronavirus restrictions. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210111/why-are-some-swiss-restaurants-re-opening-despite-the-ban Mon, 11 Jan 2021 13:33:14 +0100 why-are-some-swiss-restaurants-re-opening-despite-the-ban On December 18th, Switzerland put in place an extensive range of new measures. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20201221/update-which-new-coronavirus-rules-go-into-effect-in-switzerland-this-week Mon, 21 Dec 2020 15:50:31 +0100 update-which-new-coronavirus-rules-go-into-effect-in-switzerland-this-week Recent government measures restrict many festivities traditionally associated with the holiday season. But some activities are not banned. https://www.thelocal.ch/20201214/explained-what-you-are-still-allowed-to-do-in-switzerland-on-christmas Mon, 14 Dec 2020 16:25:36 +0100 explained-what-you-are-still-allowed-to-do-in-switzerland-on-christmas New restrictions will go into effect in Switzerland on Tuesday in an effort to curb the growing number of coronavirus infections. https://www.thelocal.ch/20201218/switzerland-announces-the-closure-of-restaurants-other-coronavirus-measures Fri, 18 Dec 2020 16:24:00 +0100 switzerland-announces-the-closure-of-restaurants-other-coronavirus-measures Restaurants will open again this week in French-speaking cantons in Switzerland. This is what you should know about the rules. https://www.thelocal.ch/20201208/explained-what-you-should-know-about-restaurant-re-openings-in-french-speaking-switzerland-this-week Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:06:56 +0100 explained-what-you-should-know-about-restaurant-re-openings-in-french-speaking-switzerland-this-week Nearly four weeks after closing down, bars and restaurants in five of Switzerland’s six French-speaking regions will be back in business as of December 10th. https://www.thelocal.ch/20201126/cafs-and-restaurants-in-most-swiss-french-cantons-will-re-open-on-december-10th Thu, 26 Nov 2020 16:36:02 +0100 cafs-and-restaurants-in-most-swiss-french-cantons-will-re-open-on-december-10th From school re-openings and new rules in Bern restaurants, to the suspension of an international train service, these are the events in Switzerland this week. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200817/whats-changing-in-switzerland-this-week-august-17 Mon, 17 Aug 2020 12:09:15 +0200 whats-changing-in-switzerland-this-week-august-17 In order to cover the additional costs for the hygiene measures, some restaurants charge a coronavirus surcharge. Consumer protection groups also suspect hidden price increases. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200528/should-you-pay-a-corona-surcharge-at-a-swiss-restaurant Thu, 28 May 2020 19:25:46 +0200 should-you-pay-a-corona-surcharge-at-a-swiss-restaurant Despite being allowed to open again on Monday, many restaurants across Switzerland remained closed - while others were almost empty. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200512/why-restaurants-in-switzerland-remain-unopened-despite-lockdown-loosening Tue, 12 May 2020 14:54:55 +0200 why-restaurants-in-switzerland-remain-unopened-despite-lockdown-loosening Bars and restaurants are again allowed to open in Switzerland from May 11th. But whether customers are ready and willing to attend is another story. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200511/its-too-early-your-views-on-switzerland-reopening-bars-and-restaurants Mon, 11 May 2020 13:00:11 +0200 its-too-early-your-views-on-switzerland-reopening-bars-and-restaurants Bars and restaurants in Switzerland will open again on Monday. Here’s how they will comply with social distancing requirements. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200506/coronavirus-heres-how-switzerlands-reopened-bars-and-restaurants-will-look Wed, 06 May 2020 16:20:04 +0200 coronavirus-heres-how-switzerlands-reopened-bars-and-restaurants-will-look Visitors to restaurants and pubs will be required to provide their full name and phone number in order to enter, under new requirements laid out by the Swiss government as part of the relaxation of coronavirus lockdown restrictions. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200505/coronavirus-swiss-bars-and-cafes-to-demand-names-and-numbers-of-all-customers-when-reopen Tue, 05 May 2020 15:52:40 +0200 coronavirus-swiss-bars-and-cafes-to-demand-names-and-numbers-of-all-customers-when-reopen Even in Zurich, 91 francs (€70, $90) is a lot for a kebab: but then again, not all kebabs are like this. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180522/is-the-91-franc-kebab-with-wagyu-beef-switzerlands-most-expensive Tue, 22 May 2018 11:46:00 +0200 is-the-91-franc-kebab-with-wagyu-beef-switzerlands-most-expensive The southern canton of Ticino may become the first in Switzerland to impose restrictions on smoking in the outdoor seating areas of restaurants and cafes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180427/ticino-to-consider-ban-on-smoking-on-caf-terraces Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:36:44 +0200 ticino-to-consider-ban-on-smoking-on-caf-terraces On Sunday October 15th Sri Lankan chef Thambithurai Sritharan, an asylum seeker in Switzerland, will take over the kitchen of the Brasserie des Halles de l’Ile in Geneva as part of the first Swiss edition of the Refugee Food Festival. https://www.thelocal.ch/20171010/refugee-chefs-take-over-geneva-restaurants Tue, 10 Oct 2017 13:04:56 +0200 refugee-chefs-take-over-geneva-restaurants Top French chef Joël Robuchon, who holds the most Michelin stars in the world, is to open a new restaurant in Geneva. https://www.thelocal.ch/20161230/celebrated-french-chef-plans-new-opening-in-geneva Fri, 30 Dec 2016 10:36:26 +0100 celebrated-french-chef-plans-new-opening-in-geneva