Germany declares that all of Switzerland is a risk zone

10:35 am: Germany declares Switzerland a risk zone

Due to the increasing number of corona cases in Europe, the German Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has identified other regions and countries as risk areas. All of Switzerland, Poland, almost all of Austria, and much of Italy are now also new. A travel advisory will apply to these and other countries and areas beginning Saturday, October 24.

The Canary Islands, however, will be removed from the risk list, as announced by the RKI. Great Britain, with the exception of the Channel Islands and overseas territories, all of Ireland and Liechtenstein will also be considered risk areas as of Saturday. There are also individual regions in Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Sweden, Slovenia, and Hungary.

The risk area classification and associated travel advisories from the Federal Foreign Office do not mean a travel ban, but should have the greatest possible deterrent effect on tourists. The good news for vacationers: they can cancel a trip that has already been booked if their destination is declared a risk zone. The bad: Returnees from risk areas currently have to be quarantined for 14 days, but can be released prematurely with a negative test.

10.15 am: Spread of the coronavirus

9.47am.: British Airways mother cuts flight plan

British Airways parent company IAG also suffered billions of dollars in losses in the summer due to the crown crisis. Now the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus and Level airlines is reducing flight hours even further.

Operating loss adjusted for special effects was 1.3 billion euros in the third quarter according to preliminary figures, as announced by IAG on Thursday in London. In the fourth quarter, the flight schedule of IAG companies should reach a maximum of 30 percent of the same period last year. Until now, top management had set a goal of at least 40 percent.

CFO Stephen Gunning justified the cut with the second wave of infections, strict quarantine rules in many countries, and the resulting weak reserve figures. Due to the reduced flight program, it is unlikely that the group will be able to stop the outflow of money in the ongoing business in the fourth quarter.

9.14 am.: Almost 15,000 new cases in the Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, the number of people infected with corona continues to skyrocket. With nearly 15,000 new cases in 24 hours, authorities reported a daily record Thursday. In total, more than 4,400 people are receiving treatment at the hospital.

The total number of deaths related to a Covid 19 disease since the beginning of the pandemic rose to 1739. Meanwhile, drastic measures against the corona wave went into effect. Citizens only have to leave the house or apartment to go to work, buy the bare minimum, or visit the doctor and family. Walks in parks and nature are also allowed. Most stores must be closed. Exceptions include supermarkets and pharmacies.

Interior Minister Jan Hamacek told “Pravo” newspaper that the government had chosen the “strongest caliber” available. The Social Democrat assured that the borders – unlike spring – would remain open.

8.45am.: Scientists warn Federal Council: beds are in short supply

The warning from scientists from the Covid task force is stark: Just four weeks in Switzerland there should be enough beds in intensive care units to accommodate all Covid patients in need. It will end in mid-November – each of the 1,600 intensive care beds will be occupied, if the crown number continues to rise as fast as it is currently. That’s what the “Tages-Anzeiger” writes.

According to the newspaper, the scientists reported this warning to the Federal Council yesterday, also in writing. It is the scientists of the Covid working group that the Federal Council has appointed itself.

It is rare for external guests to appear before the entire Federal Council. Now, the state government listened to Covid experts for the second time in a week.

8.30am.: Germans are again massively buying more toilet paper

The corona pandemic is driving sales of toilet paper in Germany. Last week’s sales were nearly double (plus 89.9 percent) than the average for the pre-crisis months from August 2019 to January 2020.

This is demonstrated by a special evaluation published Thursday by the Federal Statistical Office. Disinfectant sales grew by almost three-quarters and soap sales by almost two-thirds. “Demand for sanitizers and soap remained slightly above average even during the summer, when food sales largely normalized,” he said.

Demand for certain foods also increased in the period under review in mid-October. Flour sales increased 28.4 percent and yeast sales 34.8 percent. However, the sales figures for pasta such as noodles fell slightly by 0.2 percent.

At the beginning of the corona pandemic in March and April, there were empty shelves in individual supermarkets. Customers were increasingly turning to hygiene items such as toilet paper, as well as preserves, pasta and flour. Therefore, many stores only allowed the purchase of normal domestic quantities.

“Meanwhile, politics and business associations see the situation of the supply of goods for daily use as safe and appeal to the population to refrain from ‘buying hamsters’,” the statistical office now emphasized.

8 a.m.: Huber + Suhner is cutting 250 jobs

Appenzell-based component maker Huber + Suhner achieved fewer sales and fewer orders in the first nine months than in the same period last year. In the third quarter, however, the downward trend compared to the second slowed down. However, jobs are now being cut.

In accordance with this, the company will reduce its workforce across the group by 250 positions by mid-2021, 100 of which will be in Switzerland. Jobs will be eliminated in both production and administrative areas. The low-income location in Brazil is closed.

The reduction in Switzerland will be staggered, mainly through natural fluctuations and early retirement. Individual dismissals cannot be ruled out.

7.45am: Swiss CFOs expect slow economic recovery

The outlook for the Swiss economy is no longer as bleak as in spring. CFOs of Swiss companies see it that way too. However, they assume that the recovery will be a test of patience.

CFOs interviewed by consultancy Deloitte are no longer so pessimistic about economic developments. 42 percent still evaluate the outlook for the next twelve months as negative. In spring, this value was 96 percent.

The situation remains unstable in view of the sharp increase in the number of infections in Europe, the statement said Thursday. After all, it has been deactivated in Switzerland thanks to government measures like short-time work or fast-paying corona loans.

The return of the Swiss economy to pre-crisis levels is likely to take some time.

7.30 am: Swiss National Solidarity Day

The crown crisis is making the poor even poorer around the world. Swiss Solidarity is collecting money for 16 hours today as part of the national solidarity day “Coronavirus International”. This is used to combat the crown crisis in already weakened countries.

Federal President Simonetta Sommaruga is a prominent advocate for Collection Day. “The coronavirus crisis hits many people hard, including in Switzerland. In already weakened countries, this crisis has fatal consequences, as it exacerbates problems such as social inequality and poverty. The coronavirus pandemic needs our solidarity, also across borders, “Sommaruga says in the message.

5.13am.: Germany with more than 10,000 new infections

In light of the huge increase in corona infections, several European countries are taking steps to fight the pandemic. The new measures are partly equivalent to a nationwide lockdown.

The number of new corona infections detected in one day in Germany has increased dramatically again, exceeding 10,000 for the first time. According to the Robert Koch Institute, health authorities reported 11,287 cases in the 24 hours of Thursday morning. The previous high since the start of the corona pandemic in Germany was reached on Saturday with 7,830 new infections.

On Thursday of last week, 6,638 cases were reported for the first time more than in the spring. However, the current values ​​are only partially comparable to those of the spring, because now many more tests are being done and therefore more infections are discovered.

According to experts, recently reported infections are an indication of how strong the virus was in society about a week ago due to the time between infection, test, result, and report. So it will take some time before the policy measures are reflected in the registration figures.

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