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Switzerland’s r-rate climbs above 1 for first time in two months

Switzerland’s R-Rate climbed above 1 for the first time in two months on Wednesday.

Published: 3 February 2021 17:02 CET

Switzerland’s r-rate climbs above 1 for first time in two months

Swiss Health Minister Alain Berset walks past Swiss parliament in Bern. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

The R-Rate is a crucial metric which illustrates how the virus is spreading through the community.

EXPLAINED: What are the details of Switzerland's coronavirus restrictions?

The news comes as a surprise, particularly considering case numbers have been falling in Switzerland.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Patrick Mathys from the Federal Office of Public Health said the reason was a delay in the way the R-Rate is recorded.

“The R value relates to a situation from 10 days ago. The same goes for the reported cases every day,” he said.

“That means: For the next few days we should expect a stabilisation or even a slight increase in the number of cases.”

No new measures – but no relaxations either

Health Minister Alain Berset did however say that despite the increase, the government had not planned any further measures to be implemented in the coming weeks.

“We don't want to get into a situation where we no longer have an alternative. We still have these alternatives (of tougher measures) today,” he said.

“We have gotten used to different things. Wearing masks (for instance) is no longer a problem for the population. This time we will relax the measures differently than last time.”

“We don't know how it will develop. We only know that the situation is more difficult than it was in December, when we decided on the measures.

“At that time we had no knowledge of the mutations. If the mutation case numbers continue to double every week, then we have to see what we do.”

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EXPLAINED: What does the 'bio' label on foods in Switzerland really mean?

In its press release published in June 2024, Bio Suisse, an umbrella group for organic food producers, said that residents of Switzerland are international ‘bio’ champions.

“With consumption of 454 francs per capita, Switzerland ranks first in international comparison,” the organisation said. “In no other European country is the organic basket of goods as large.”

In terms of preference for organic food, “Switzerland is ahead of Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg and Sweden. Germany follows in sixth place and France just behind in seventh place,” Bio-Suisse added.

This finding is not surprising because the consumption of this more expensive type of food is directly linked to income: the wealthier the country, the more its residents are willing to spend on organic products.

What does a ‘bio’ label stand for in Switzerland?

In a nutshell, organic products must meet much higher standards and comply with more requirements than the ‘conventional’ foods in the way they are grown and manufactured.

Contrary to most conventional production methods, organic farming is more sustainable — that is, it protects the environment and conserves resources instead of depleting them.

A total of 7,362 organic farmers and producers are members of Bio Suisse.

In addition, more than 2,300 operations abroad are also certified according to the Bio Suisse standards, which means their farming / production methods are equivalent to those practiced in Switzerland.

Can you trust a ‘bio’ label, or is it just a lot of hype (as some people claim?)

In Switzerland, this process is strictly controlled by various organic farming ordinances, which are enforced by the Federal Office for Agriculture (BLW).

This means that every farm that produces, prepares, trades or imports organic products is inspected and certified at least once a year by one of the four accredited and approved certification bodies in Switzerland.

These laws also set out the principles by which agricultural products and foodstuffs labelled as organic must be made, and which non-toxic substances are authorised for use in organic farming and for preparing organic food.

Why are organic products more expensive than conventional ones?

Among the main reasons are more rigorous production and certification standards, which must meet all the requirements set out by the BLW.

Also, operational costs involved in the use of natural, pesticide-free fertilisers and high-quality animal feed, are higher in organic farming than in conventional one.

Additionally, the supply of organic food in Swiss supermarkets is more limited than that of conventional one, which pushes prices up.

And then there is this often-asked question: is organic food in Switzerland in really healthier?

Some people will swear by the better quality and higher nutritional value of organic products, while others will say the benefits are exaggerated.

There is no definite answer to this question, except this: some studies have shown possible health benefits of organic foods when compared with foods grown using conventional process.

However, there is limited information to prove how these differences can give potential overall health benefits.

But Zurich authorities believe in the ‘power’ of organic foods: in 2022, they mandated that most of the food served in the city’s hospitals, care centres, childcare facilities, and schools, be organic.

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