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HEALTH

Which cantons are Switzerland’s coronavirus mutation hotspots?

Coronavirus mutations first detected in the UK, South Africa and Brazil have been found all across Switzerland. Which cantons have been hardest hit?

Which cantons are Switzerland’s coronavirus mutation hotspots?
Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Despite declining infection rates across Switzerland, concerns about coronavirus mutations look certain to see an extension of the country’s lockdown beyond February. 

More than 6,000 infections of a mutated form of coronavirus have now been detected in Switzerland. 

According to official government figures, 2,381 of those mutations are of the British variant, along with 96 of the South African variant. 

Three cases of the Brazilian variant have been detected in Switzerland. 

A further 3,526 are of an “unknown origin” according to the Swiss government. 

UPDATED: Brazilian coronavirus mutations detected in two Swiss cantons

Where are Switzerland’s coronavirus mutation hotspots? 

The west of the country has been hardest hit by coronavirus mutations. 

The most cases of the British variant have been discovered in Vaud (451), Bern (321) and Geneva (249). 

In total, 707 variants of an ‘unknown origin’ have been discovered in Geneva, along with 197 in Vaud and 189 in Valais. 

Elsewhere in Switzerland, Zurich recorded 684 examples of unknown variants, followed by Aargau 263. 

Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health said that while all possible effort was being put into tracking down the variants, not all cantons had set up infrastructure to track the variants – meaning that country-wide information is incomplete. 

The Brazilian variant has been detected in Zurich and Geneva

Geneva heavily hit

New figures from the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) show that 80 percent of all Covid cases in the canton can be traced back to new variants. 

This is up from just 60 percent in the middle of last week, showing how infectious the variants are

It is not clear why Geneva has recorded such a high number of mutations, but based on previous research, it may be because it lies on the border with France, is particularly densely populated, and has an international airport.

All these factors favour the mobility of the population and the circulation of coronavirus.

What is the long-term prognosis?

Swiss scientists believe that the variants will eventually replace the existing examples of the virus. 

“This is due to the fact that the British, Brazilian and South African variants are transmitted more quickly and easily. This is not an exceptional phenomenon in biology,” Ticino epidemiologist Andreas Cerny told Swiss news outlet 20 Minutes

Virginie Masserey, of the FOPH, said on Tuesday that the British variant would likely be the most dominant strain of the virus in Switzerland from next week (22nd February)

Cerny warned that the danger of the variants meant that measures should not be relaxed anytime soon. 

“The reason for the falling number of cases is the strong measures currently in place in Switzerland,” he said. 

“This should actually reduce the number of cases even more, but this is not happening due to the mutations. If the measures were dropped now, the number of cases would quickly increase again.”

 

 

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ZURICH

How much does a Zurich city break cost in 2024?

As Swiss cities go, Zurich is the complete package: Not only is it the country’s economic and cultural capital, but its location on the lake of the same name, the River Limmat, and the nearby Uetliberg make it a great natural beauty. The question is, how much does it cost to visit?

How much does a Zurich city break cost in 2024?

Using a weekend city trip as a yardstick, The Local looked at the average costs of a visit to Zurich, factoring in accommodation, dining, public transport and sightseeing. 

Accommodation

Based on data from the online booking platform trip.com, the average price for a hotel room per night in Zurich in 2024 is 149 francs – roughly €157. 

Of course, this greatly depends on the level of comfort you’re looking for. 

A room in a popular budget hotel near the central train station, like Hotel Bristol, can run as low as 47 francs / €50 per night for a private room. 

On the other end of the scale, a room in a luxury hotel like the iconic Hotel Storchen starts at around 547 francs / €574. 

For a two-night stay in the city, budget around 350 francs / €370 – assuming you have two people sharing.

Dining

According to the crowdsourced travel information site Budgetyourtrip.com, the average meal in Zurich costs around 24 francs / €26.

Again, this depends on what you’re looking for. Hitting up a popular street food spot like Sternen Grill will cost you around 16 francs / €15 for a Bratwurst in a roll with mustard and a drink.

Conversely, you could splurge on a Michelin-star restaurant like La Rotisserie, part of the Hotel Storchen, and spend 300 francs / €315 per person. 

For a two-night stay in Zurich, expect to pay 156 francs / €163 per person to eat. 

READ ALSO: Nine Zurich life hacks to make you feel like a local

Public Transport 

Thankfully, Zurich is serviced by an excellent public transport network, and getting around couldn’t be easier. 

It may also be the easiest part to budget for your Zürich city trip. 

The Zürich Card offers unlimited 2nd class travel on all buses, trains, boats, funicular railways and other forms of public transport in the Zürich region. 

A 24-hour pass costs 29 francs / €30.41, while a 72-hour pass costs 56 francs / €58.74.

For two nights in Zürich, it’ll cost you about 56 francs / €58.74 per person to get around the city. 

Sightseeing 

What you spend on sightseeing in Zurich can be the most variable part of your budget, depending on what you want to see. 

Strolling around the Old Town and Lake Zurich and visiting historic churches such as the Grossmünster and Fraumünster are free. 

A trip up the Uetliberg is also free, as you can take a tram covered by your public transport ticket.

You could also visit such museums as the Landesmuseum Zürich (13 francs / €13.63), the Swiss Finance Museum (10 francs / €10.49 ), the FIFA Museum (26 francs / €27.27 ) and the Lindt Home of Chocolate (15 francs / €15.73).

Gallery offerings include the Kunsthaus Zürich (24 francs / €25.17 ), the Kunsthalle Zürich (12 francs / €12.58) and the Pavilion Le Corbusier (12 francs / €12.58). 

It’s important to note that some museums and galleries offer free entry with the Zurich Card – it’s worth checking at the ticket counter. 

Enjoying a boat trip on Lake Zurich is really worth your while, and a cruise with a vessel operated by the ZVV  will cost 44.60 francs / €44.76 for first class and 27 francs / €28,32 for second class,

READ ALSO: Five beautiful Swiss villages located less than an hour from Zurich

Suppose you operate on the assumption that you might see two museums daily and take a boat cruise during your trip. 

Budgeting 120 francs / €125.85 per person, is not unreasonable in that case. 

From the Uetliberg there are stunning views across Lake Zurich and the city. Photo: Stux / Pixabay

And in the end…? 

With some quick back-of-the-napkin maths, if you’re a couple expecting to spend two to three nights in Zurich, you can expect to pay around 1,062 francs / €1114.

While not the cheapest European destination, it’s more than made up for by natural beauty in scoops, a treasure trove of art, culture and history, and some of central Europe’s best dining. 

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