Swiss voters uphold COVID restrictions, approve increased healthcare funding


Swiss voters rejected a referendum that would have repealed some of the country's COVID-19 restrictions, the BBC reports. Switzerland's current law, which requires a vaccination certificate or negative COVID test for entry into many public spaces, will remain in effect.
Over 60 percent of voters voted "no" on the referendum. Although most of the country's major political parties supported the restrictions, the right-wing populist Swiss People's Party opposed them, as did some left-wing activists, Politico reports.
Switzerland is currently experiencing record-high infection rates similar to those affecting Germany and Austria. About two-thirds of the population has been vaccinated. So far, Switzerland has been spared the strict lockdowns neighboring countries have implemented, but the results of today's referendum could embolden the federal government to tighten restrictions.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Voters also approved a measure that would increase health-care funding and improve working conditions for Swiss nurses. Around 10 percent of the country's nurses and other healthcare workers have quit since the beginning of the pandemic, and those who stayed on the job have been suffering from burnout as they struggle to keep up with the exploding number of COVID cases.
Switzerland practices a form of semi-direct democracy in which an unusually high number of legislative and constitutional measures are approved or rejected via referendum.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
Make mine a soju and tonic: the rise of Korea's favourite spirit
The Week Recommends The rice-based drink can replace gin or vodka in traditional cocktails for a refreshing twist on the classics
-
The full moon calendar for every month
In depth When to see the lunar phenomenon every month
-
The end of WeightWatchers
Talking Point The diet brand has filed for bankruptcy in the US as it struggles to survive in era of weight-loss jabs
-
RFK Jr. visits Texas as 2nd child dies from measles
Speed Read An outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease continues to grow following a decade of no recorded US measles deaths
-
Shingles vaccine cuts dementia risk, study finds
Speed Read Getting vaccinated appears to significantly reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia
-
Measles outbreak spreads, as does RFK Jr.'s influence
Speed Read The outbreak centered in Texas has grown to at least three states and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is promoting unproven treatments
-
Five years on: How Covid changed everything
Feature We seem to have collectively forgotten Covid’s horrors, but they have completely reshaped politics
-
RFK Jr. offers alternative remedies as measles spreads
Speed Read Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes unsupported claims about containing the spread as vaccine skepticism grows
-
Texas outbreak brings 1st US measles death since 2015
Speed read The outbreak is concentrated in a 'close-knit, undervaccinated' Mennonite community in rural Gaines County
-
Mystery illness spreading in Congo rapidly kills dozens
Speed Read The World Health Organization said 53 people have died in an outbreak that originated in a village where three children ate a bat carcass
-
Ozempic can curb alcohol cravings, study finds
Speed read Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may also be helpful in limiting alcohol consumption