What's changing in Switzerland after the COVID-19 crisis

1629POSTS

5 years ago

Hello everyone,

I hope you're doing well.

As the Editorial Team of Expat.com, our aim is to provide you with fresh and up-to-date information about the COVID-19 crisis in your host country. You might be expecting a lot of changes following the crisis, especially in terms of entry and visa requirements, work, buying property, education, etc.

Whether you're looking to relocate to Switzerland after the crisis or you have already settled in, here's what you need to know:

Post-COVID-19 changes in Switzerland

Hoping this helps. Also, feel free to write to me should you have any useful information that we could add.

Many thanks in advance.

Warm regards,
Veedushi
Editorial Assistant, Expat.com

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matjung Contributor

133POSTS

5 years ago

In the 2nd virus wave CH introduced a mask obligation in public transport. That was not around during the first wave.
The tertiary sector has been hit hard by the lock-down during the first wave. Plenty of temps lost their jobs. In some cantons people have to wear masks when going shopping. In other cantons they don't.
Before the crisis thousands of people moved into Switzerland every year. This came to an end. Now some people are moving out or return home to their loved ones.

SimCityAT Expert

13684POSTS

5 years ago

There isn't a 2nd wave yet

matjung Contributor

133POSTS

5 years ago

It is a wave. In my own charts one can see it.
It is not a Tsunami. But a wave compared with the numbers in May/June.

SimCityAT Expert

13684POSTS

5 years ago

matjung wrote:
It is a wave. In my own charts one can see it.
It is not a Tsunami. But a wave compared with the numbers in May/June.

Even in the UK where they have high numbers haven't got a 2nd wave. Nowhere in Europe is experiencing a 2nd wave.

matjung Contributor

133POSTS

5 years ago

Wave is a question of definition.
Proper Statistics has always been a Swiss problem.
https://micro-work.net/covid/v1/jhu/tsc … land/d:150
In middle of June less then 40 people caught the infection.
Numbers are up to 400 a day in middle of September. How inaccurate the numbers are is a different story.
It were more interesting to ask how many Expats are out of work, and from those who are out of work - how many are out of work in the Swiss statistics.
On Friday evening Public Burger in Sihlcity is closing at 8 PM.
They used to be in business well after 11 PM.
Some restaurants at the outer skirts of Zürich seem to have more business like the Tres Amigos in Dübendorf or the Nooch in Wallisellen/Richti.
The obligation to wear masks is clearly reducing the demand of people to go shopping. Shopping centers used to be full of people for x-mas shopping. Right now it looks like they are empty.

matjung Contributor

133POSTS

5 years ago

I think CH is now in its third wave.
Shopping Centers are more busy than in September and less buy then last year.
The government is expected to announce that office workers should return to home office.
The borders to neighbor countries are expected to remain open.
Going on holidays gets discouraged.
Visiting family and friends in the other country for a weekend is still possible as long as you travel with a mask or ride your own vehicle.
A day return shopping spree to Konstanz, Freiburg or Stuttgart is still possible.
Personally I hope we get quick tests at train stations or pharmacies.
Then infected people could return home and stay at home until the infection is gone. Instead of a supply of masks, we will need a supply of self test kits.

Cynic UK/Netherlands Expert

8103POSTS

5 years ago

I think a quick test may not be as quick as some are hoping; currently, 15 minutes is about the quickest from test to result given; of no use in a commuter situation where the queues (exacerbated by social distancing) will be horrendous and unacceptable, if not impossible in many of our older cities and towns. What is more likely is vaccination, social distancing, then personal, regular testing that will give an individual some assurance that they can go about their daily life without causing health issues to close family and friends.

matjung Contributor

133POSTS

5 years ago

I would not test myself everyday. I have not been tested at all. Still I am curious if someone else infected me without knowing.
The letter man could distribute self test kits to every household. Those who are infected must stay at home. The big rest can leave the door.

Cynic UK/Netherlands Expert

8103POSTS

5 years ago

#10

As it stands, there is nothing currently available to home test daily, so not an issue. However, you (or I) could be COVID asymptomatic and not know it; this article (link) from the University of London may be of interest; we may well be infecting people and not know it.

Whatever, States need reliable information in order to make decisions that are of benefit to the population at large. Should we be asymptomatic, we may not get the option as to whether we want to test yourself daily, vaccination and testing may become a condition of being permitted to live in the general population as opposed to isolation. Sounds very Orwellian and maybe Big Brother, but c'est la vie.

RowanaStatham New member

4POSTS

5 years ago

#11

Just a thought. Studies have shown that a very high % of us have cross T-cell immunity from previous COVID type viruses. Should we not be testing for immunity?

Cynic UK/Netherlands Expert

8103POSTS

5 years ago

#12

RowanaStatham wrote:
Just a thought. Studies have shown that a very high % of us have cross T-cell immunity from previous COVID type viruses. Should we not be testing for immunity?

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

My understanding is that the existing antibody tests don't work for everybody and there is not enough information currently to work out why. It also does not tell you if you're immune, or if you are capable of passing on the disease.

All that said, they are doing the tests in the UK on high-risk healthcare, social care and education workers to try and see if they can develop this further.

At this stage, it looks like the vaccination will be the first event to cross the line in an attempt to try and protect those high-risk members of society.

Just my opinion.

Cynic
Expat Team

RowanaStatham New member

4POSTS

5 years ago

#13

Vitamin D and zinc are being prescribed by governments to vulnerable people in Scotland and England. There are many clinical studies showing that these protect the immune system (especially the lungs from cytokine storms) and vitamin d is being used in it's purest form- directly absorbable by the body with very positive outcomes. A UK scientist, Dr John Campbell has been broadcasting his studies on Youtube if anyone is interested. The Lancet has also published articles on Vitamin D. A question: How many of the people you know who have had COVID were living with a partner/families who did not contract it? I know many. Even on the cruise ship off the coast of Japan at the start of the year, saw the same scenario. Don't you think that this would suggest immunity. Why would you need a vaccine if you are already immune?

RowanaStatham New member

4POSTS

5 years ago

#14

If the anti-body tests don't work to check your immunity, how can you show that a vaccine works?. Is the role of the vaccine not to make you immune? Then even if you get a vaccine, you will be like the same person who didn't get the vaccine who is already immune?

matjung Contributor

133POSTS

5 years ago

#15

I am wondering why the elderly will get vaccinated first.
Is it really to protect them first, or is it to cover up deadly side effects.
Up to now 100% of the population is suffering and 1% of the population got ill.
Would it not be best, first to vaccinate the nurses and doctors?
Then frequent travelers, shop assistants, waitresses, visitors of the hospitals and nursing homes.
I would vaccinate those first who have a lot of contacts.

Cynic UK/Netherlands Expert

8103POSTS

5 years ago

#16

I don't think there is any doubt of immunity; I know of at least one example (my son got it, his partner didn't); nor did I and I'm in an at-risk group. The issue would appear to be that immunity is not guaranteed in as much as we now have people on their 2nd documented case of Covid, nor do we know for how long the immunity is good for. The idea of the vaccine is to swamp the pandemic with people who are protected, so it doesn't have the chance to reproduce and for the testing to give them an idea as to how effective the vaccine is in both the short and long-term.

As for vitamin D, my understanding today is that it's only being prescribed in the UK to people in indoor environments, the reason being that you get more than enough just by being outside in the sunlight.

I should add, my degree is in Logistics, my other half is the one with medical expertise, anything I say is based on my ability to recognise a means of transport from 50 paces.

Cynic UK/Netherlands Expert

8103POSTS

5 years ago

#17

matjung wrote:
I am wondering why the elderly will get vaccinated first.
Is it really to protect them first, or is it to cover up deadly side effects.
Up to now 100% of the population is suffering and 1% of the population got ill.
Would it not be best, first to vaccinate the nurses and doctors?
Then frequent travelers, shop assistants, waitresses, visitors of the hospitals and nursing homes.
I would vaccinate those first who have a lot of contacts.

"Cover-up" - who is covering up what? How much more evidence do you need other than it's a world-wide pandemic and people all over the world are dying.

RowanaStatham New member

4POSTS

5 years ago

#18

Over 99% survival rate as far as European MOMO statistics are concerned. A miracle if it was cancer or heart disease. No more deaths than from the normal flu season. However, more deaths from suicides, heart disease and untreated cancers... and will these continue to rise due to loss of livelihoods and loneliness, well after? Re vitamin D- chronic low levels as can't get enough from sunshine. People are now going outside and wearing masks but prior to this situation, they cover their bodies with suncreams to block the sun....

SimCityAT Expert

13684POSTS

5 years ago

#19

RowanaStatham wrote:
Over 99% survival rate as far as European MOMO statistics are concerned. A miracle if it was cancer or heart disease. No more deaths than from the normal flu season. However, more deaths from suicides, heart disease and untreated cancers... and will these continue to rise due to loss of livelihoods and loneliness, well after? Re vitamin D- chronic low levels as can't get enough from sunshine. People are now going outside and wearing masks but prior to this situation, they cover their bodies with suncreams to block the sun....

I am not sure about that, check facts > https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2 … t/#sources

Cynic UK/Netherlands Expert

8103POSTS

5 years ago

#20

That 99% refers to those tested, not those admitted to ICU because of it, then the number plummets to 66%.

No more deaths? Every single Covid death is additional to, not in place of Flu - 1.54 million as of today's figures.

In the UK, the vitamin D supplement is only prescribed to care home residents who can't get outside for normal sun exposure; this was so before Covid and will continue long after it; the only difference today is that during Covid, the NHS is supplying it free to the care home. Some shops are now selling Vit D supplements, which is where I get mine from (I have COPD, so can't get out as much as I used to).

matjung Contributor

133POSTS

5 years ago

#21

We are getting a 3rd wave.
I think the reputation of this country suffered a lot.
This is a small country with a reputation in pharmacy.
It wants to be independent from EU.
And does not manage to purchase enough vaccines or self test kits.
It is so scared of making wrong decisions, that it does not make decisions in the first place.
It is so worried about false negative test results, that you were prevented from getting tested for months.

matjung Contributor

133POSTS

4 years ago

#22

The country expects to experience the peak of wave #5 in January.
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/covid-19_c … d/45592192

In 2021 the labor market recovered from the Corona recession.
Plenty of Expats moved again into CH.
For Brits it became more difficult to move into the country.
Rents seem to remain at elevated levels.
At the grocery store you feel inflation at every shelf.
When visiting the home country you feel that Francs are stronger then ever.
Some people expect that Corona ends Spring 2022.