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HEALTH

Further quarantine measures on hold as mobile data confirms discipline of Swiss population

After monitoring mobile phone data looking at how closely residents of Switzerland were complying with existing coronavirus measures, the Swiss government has decided to hold off on putting in place more stringent restrictions - however the question of a complete curfew remains on the table.

Further quarantine measures on hold as mobile data confirms discipline of Swiss population
Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

On Friday March 20th, the Swiss government put in place a range of new measures and restrictions in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus and its economic impacts. 

READ: What you need to know about Switzerland's coronavirus testing regime

Most significant of these was a requirement that Swiss residents do not congregate in groups of more than five people. 

The Swiss government has been monitoring mobile phone data in order to see whether the population is complying with coronavirus restrictions – or whether more severe measures should be put in place. 

As reported by The Local Switzerland on March 24th, the government had considered whether or not to put in place additional curfews which would start with a lockdown after 6pm at night, eventually extending to a 24-hour lockdown similar to that seen in Italy or Spain. 

However, speaking at a press conference on Thursday, March 26th, the head of Communicable Diseases at the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) Daniel Koch indicated that the existing measures would remain in place for now. 

Koch also allayed concerns about the collection of the data, saying it was “not surveillance” and it was instead used anonymously and was only being used to determine adherence with the restrictive coronavirus measures. 

“We are purely looking at representations of mobility in public space”. 

On Wednesday, Swiss Interior Minister Alain Berset said the Swiss public “should not be afraid of surveillance”, saying it was only used to make sure people were not breaking the rules once outside. 

Berset indicated that mobile data would continue to be used to determine whether the public continued to comply with the requirements. 

“The most important thing is that it stays that way.”

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HEALTH

The essential Swiss websites you need to use for health matters

If you just moved to Switzerland (or even if you have lived here for a while), your learning curve about health-related matters in the country may be steep. These sites will help you find the information you need.

The essential Swiss websites you need to use for health matters

Staying healthy is probably one of your top priorities, but doing so in a foreign country is not easy.

That is why having some reliable resources that you can check out and follow will be helpful.

First: The Local

No, we are not doctors, but we have published a number of factual articles over the years about many aspects of healthcare in Switzerland that our readers find helpful.

You can find a compilation of these health-related stories here

Federal Office of Public Health 

Obviously, when it comes to matters of health, the Health Ministry has lots of information that will be relevant to you at one time or another.

Aside from matters of health policy (which is important for all residents of Switzerland), the site also has a regularly updated Infectious Diseases Dashboard to let you know what communicable illnesses are currently circulating in Switzerland — and how to avoid them.

It also provides age-specific health information and recommendations — for instance, for children and teenagers, as well as for the elderly.

Hospital websites

Individual hospitals in your area are good sources of information as well, and many of them are in English.

You can find there general health information, care and treatment options, online emergency room signup, new medical technologies being used, and other patient resources:

Geneva University Hospitals (HUG)

Vaud University Hospital (CHUV)

Zurich University Hospital

Basel University Hospital 

If you live in an area without a university medical centre, your local hospital is also a valuable source of health-related information.

Appointment booking platform

This website is especially useful for people who don’t yet have a doctor in Switzerland but need to set an appointment with one. 

It gives you an option of choosing a specialty and location, and then displays doctor’s names and addresses, background information about them, and which time slots they have available.

You can easily set up an appointment this way.

Your health insurer’s website

This may not be an intuitive choice for impartial information about healthcare but you may be surprised.

For instance, Sanitas insurance site has information about emergency care decisions, and how to void unnecessary medical treatments.

CSS has health information geared specifically to men and women.

Helsana talks about ways to combat stress and sleep problems.

These are just a few examples on what valuable tips you can find on your insurer’s website.

Websites devoted to specific medical conditions

If you seek information about a specific illness — such as treatment options in Switzerland — there are plenty of online resources for that as well.

For instance:

Heart and cardiovascular 

Diabetes 

Osteoporosis 

Mental illness 

General pain 

Other diseases 

Last but not least, while not related to health, these websites will also provide useful information for international residents:

The Swiss websites that can help you save money
 
The most useful website resources to help you get Swiss citizenship 
 
 

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