An unusual Christmas: people wearing masks enjoy the Zurich Christmas light display
Keystone / Alexandra Wey
People should plan their Christmas shopping and get-togethers carefully so as not to undo the progress made in stemming the Covid-19 pandemic, Swiss health officials have said.
The Covid-19 situation in Switzerland has improved over the last week but hospitalisations and deaths remain high, officials said at a press conference in Bern. On Friday, the country reported just over 4,300 new cases in the previous 24 hours.
Best would be to avoid peak times for Christmas shopping and shop early, rather than last-minute, advised Virginie Masserey, head of infections control and vaccination programmes at the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
Walks not dinners
The Christmas holidays will need to be organised differently from usual, she continued. This could be a walk outside rather than a family event at home. The authorities have published further tips here.External link
The advice urges people to discuss their plans for the holidays with family and friends. “There is nothing wrong with calling off the celebrations if you do not have a good feeling about them,” it says.
If you do have celebrations, talk about how you will greet each other (‘avoid hugs and kisses”), seat people at several tables, ventilate and keep to social distancing during the meal. “You may, for instance, use multiple fondue sets. It is also important that not all guests touch the same items,” the health authorities say.
Singing and playing woodwind instruments are discouraged. “Try to enjoy recorded music instead this year,” the advice adds.
Masserey warned that the second wave of infections was bigger and would last longer than the first wave in spring. Corona hotspots had moved into the German-speaking part of the country, she said. The French-speaking part has been hardest hit with rates among the highest in Europe, but is now seeing a steep drop in infections following tighter restrictions.
Around 500 people are in intensive care with Covid-19, she said. There is a reserve of 220 beds countrywide.
Fragile
The situation is still fragile, she added. A further reduction of cases, which are still high internationally, is urgently needed.
Thomas Steffen, of the association of cantonal doctors, said that people were keeping to hygiene and protection concepts at work, but this was not the case at home “where it’s cosy”. More discipline could cut the number of quarantine cases, Steffen stressed.
The Swiss “slowdown” approach – the country has not opted for another national lockdown after the one in spring but rather a mix of national and cantonal measures – can only work if a majority of the population is on board. “Otherwise this won’t work in the long-term,” Steffen said.
More
More
Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
This content was published on
An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Zurich arbitration authority rules in favour of tenants of ‘Sugus Houses’
This content was published on
A conciliation authority says the terminations of 105 flat leases in the so-called "Sugus Houses" in the centre of Zurich were abusive. The tenants therefore do not have to move out - at least for the time being.
This content was published on
Visitors to Switzerland spent CHF19.6 billion ($23.9 billion) last year, a 2.2% rise compared to the previous year, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) said on Monday.
This content was published on
Despite the current tense economic situation, Swiss consumer sentiment remains positive. The Swiss spent more money in May than the previous year, particularly on restaurant visits and leisure activities, as shown by the latest figures released by PostFinance.
This content was published on
A bear killed four sheep in the Lower Engadine region near Scuol, canton Graubünden last week. This was the first bear attack on livestock in the region in four years.
This content was published on
Experts believe that economic development in Switzerland will be weaker in 2026 than three months ago. They have also lowered their expectations for the current year.
This content was published on
Fewer people in Switzerland have a religious affiliation and the proportion who practice their religion regularly is steadily declining, a survey finds.
Study: trees have major cooling effect even in extreme heat
This content was published on
Plane trees in cities have an important cooling effect even in extreme heat, according to a new study by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL).
EPFL launches digitised version of Battle of Murten panorama
This content was published on
To mark the anniversary of the Battle of Murten on 22 June 1476, the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has launched a website that offers the public an immersive experience of the huge panorama painting of the historic battle.
77th Swiss Gymnastics Festival praised for ‘positive energy’
This content was published on
The 77th Federal Gymnastics Festival drew to a close on Sunday in Lausanne, after eleven days of popular celebration and sporting performances.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Teachers ‘exhausted’ from pandemic demands
This content was published on
School teachers in the hard-hit French-speaking part of Switzerland say they are exhausted by the extra burdens arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. They are calling for more staff and resources.
Covid-19 situation remains stable but tense, say Swiss officials
This content was published on
While overall figures are improving, some intensive care units are still under pressure, say officials. A vaccine is not expected before 2021.
Swiss minister: ‘I don’t know if we can save Christmas’
This content was published on
Swiss Health Minister Alain Berset has refused to say when he thinks the Covid-19 crisis will end and has again called on everyone to do their part.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.