Large turnout for Schaffhausen anti-Covid measures demo
Protestors on Saturday afternoon in Schaffhausen
Keystone / Ennio Leanza
Almost 1,000 people gathered in the northern Swiss town of Schaffhausen to protest against government measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The demonstration was peaceful, local police say.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ilj
The demonstration, which was not authorised by the authorities, is the latest in a series of protests that have been taking place in Switzerland
Schaffhausen police said in a tweetExternal link on Saturday afternoon that 925 people took part. Children and dogs were also present. “For the most part masks are not being worn. The atmosphere is peaceful. We are also staying calm,” it said.
Town authorities had originally allowed the demonstration but withdrew permissionExternal link on Thursday citing fears there could be “disruptions to law and order”.
Officials were also concerned people would not be wearing masks, in defiance of government rules. This was the case in previous demonstrations in Altdorf in central Switzerland and in Liestal in the north-west. Demo organisers still sent out a call on social media for people to come to Schaffhausen.
Police intervention, youth frustrations
Last Saturday police had to break up the 500-strong Altdorf protest, firing teargas at a group of participants, who had defied a cantonal ban on demonstrations.
On March 20 nearly 8,000 people took part in the silent protest in Liestal against restrictions introduced to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.
There have also been episodes of unrest in the eastern Swiss city of St Gallen, involving mainly young people. Media reports linked the events to current Covid-19 restrictions, and the lack of social and cultural perspectives for young people.
Switzerland plans to further relax its Covid-19 restrictions from April 19, despite infections continuing to rise gradually.
More
More
Police break up unauthorised Covid demonstration in central Swiss town
This content was published on
Officers fired teargas at protestors in Altdorf on Saturday, as other cities remained mostly calm despite calls for large protests this weekend.
WHO ‘extremely concerned’ about growing vaccination scepticism
This content was published on
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), vaccination scepticism and a collapse in funding for vaccination campaigns pose a major threat to the health of the world's population.
High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
This content was published on
The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.
Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
This content was published on
Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.
Swiss martyr beatified in Barcelona by Catholic Church
This content was published on
François-Benjamin May (1870-1909), a member of the Marist Brothers congregation, has been recognised as a 'blessed' by the Catholic Church.
Prevention and tech could help save billions on Swiss healthcare costs, says Deloitte
This content was published on
By focusing on prevention and technology, it would be possible to reduce Switzerland's healthcare bill by CHF30 billion a year by 2040, according to Deloitte Switzerland.
Environment director warns of increasing climate-related risks in Switzerland
This content was published on
The director of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) has warned of increasing climate-related risks in Switzerland in an interview with SonntagsBlick on Sunday.
Thousands demonstrate against Covid-19 restrictions
This content was published on
Thousands of people have protested in the north-western Swiss town of Liestal against restrictions introduced to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.
Violent clashes between police and youths in St Gallen
This content was published on
Petrol bombs, rubber bullets, and tear gas were used in the eastern city on Friday night. Some 19 people were questioned by police.
This content was published on
Authorities in Rapperswil have turned down an application for a Covid-19 demonstration next month, citing the difficulty of respecting health measures.
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.