Provide free masks for the poor, say welfare groups
Masks have become mandatory for passengers using public transport in Switzerland earlier this week.
Keystone / Georgios Kefalas
Charities and welfare organisations in Switzerland have warned that many underprivileged people can’t afford to buy face masks to protect against coronavirus.
The association, which represents state-run and private services, said the cost of masks was too much of a financial strain on the health budgets of poorer people, amounting to some CHF40 ($42.5) per month.
Some of the more than 2,000 municipalities in Switzerland say they are following the recommendation by the welfare association, or they that they are willing to increase the welfare payments.
The church charity Caritas says it is handing out free masks to customers in its shops.
A report by public radio SRF has found that a single mask might cost up to CHF0.7 in major retail shops.
Protective masks have become mandatory in public transport across the country since the beginning of the week, following months of debate over the effectiveness of face coverings to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
More
More
Homeless in Switzerland during the pandemic
This content was published on
Coronavirus affects us all, but what about those on the margins of society?
Living longer: What do you think about the longevity trend?
The longevity market is booming thanks in part to advances in the science of ageing. What do you think of the idea of significantly extending human lifespan?
Switzerland to host European Political Community summit in 2027
This content was published on
The EPC summit brings together the continent's heads of state and aims to be a platform for political and strategic discussion on the future of Europe.
This content was published on
An unstable glacier above the Swiss village of Blatten has stopped breaking up, but there is still no question of lifting a landslide alert.
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
Opinion
More
‘Switzerland is going to face an unimaginable level of poverty’
This content was published on
The queues for food in Geneva show that while the health crisis seems to be subsiding, the economic crisis has only just begun.
This content was published on
Regularising undocumented migrants is key to solving the plight of the thousands of people queuing up in Geneva for food parcels.
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.