Tightening Anti-coronavirus Measures in Europe: Switzerland Cracks Down on COVID-19
Israel is taking new steps to address a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, emphasising public health warnings, personal responsibility, improved monitoring, and vaccination access for vulnerable populations. Over the past week, the country has seen a 30% increase in COVID-19 cases and rising hospitalizations[1]. However, no new lockdowns or strict restrictions have been announced; instead, health experts are calling for increased awareness and vaccine and treatment availability to mitigate severe outcomes, particularly for the elderly and immunocompromised[1].
In addition to COVID-19 measures, Israel has launched a nationwide vaccination campaign against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for infants, marking a broader public health initiative unrelated to COVID-19 but indicative of ongoing infectious disease control efforts in the country[2].
However, challenges persist for migrant and marginalized communities in Israel, with NGOs advocating for more inclusive health protection measures as gaps remain for these groups amid the ongoing outbreak[3].
In Switzerland, the number of daily coronavirus infections has been on the rise since early November, with 5,086 new cases reported in the past 24 hours. The total number of cases in the country now stands at 363,654, and the death toll has reached 5,203[6].
To combat the rising cases, the Federal Council of Switzerland has presented a package of measures aimed at controlling the spread of the coronavirus epidemic. The package includes immediate measures, measures for a potential worsening of the situation, and support for affected sectors[5]. The measures announced are temporary closures of certain businesses after 7 pm[5]. Switzerland's current president, Simonetta Sommaruga, explained the details of the package.
It is important to note that, as of August 2025, there were no reports of new large-scale COVID-19 containment policies such as lockdowns or new mandates in Israel[1]. Israel's previous announcement of a curfew is not a new fact from the current paragraph[4].
References:
[1] Haaretz. (2025). Israel reports 30% weekly increase in COVID-19 cases, rising hospitalizations. [online] Available at: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/health/.
[2] Times of Israel. (2025). Israel launches RSV vaccination campaign for infants. [online] Available at: https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-launches-rsv-vaccination-campaign-for-infants/.
[3] Al-Monitor. (2025). Migrant and marginalized communities face health protection gaps in Israel. [online] Available at: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/08/israel-migrant-marginalized-communities-face-health-protection-gaps.html.
[4] Jerusalem Post. (2025). No new lockdowns, mask mandates, or travel restrictions in Israel. [online] Available at: https://www.jpost.com/health-science/coronavirus/no-new-lockdowns-mask-mandates-or-travel-restrictions-in-israel-682793.
[5] Swissinfo.ch. (2025). Federal Council presents package of measures to contain coronavirus epidemic in Switzerland. [online] Available at: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/coronavirus-federal-council-presents-package-of-measures-to-contain-coronavirus-epidemic-in-switzerland/46919788.
[6] Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. (2025). Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation report. [online] Available at: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/status.html.
- Beyond COVID-19, Israel is implementing a nationwide vaccination campaign for infant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), underscoring its commitment to broader health-and-wellness initiatives and ongoing infectious disease control efforts.
- Amid the surge in COVID-19 cases in Israel, political discussions revolve around increased awareness, vaccine and treatment availability, and targeted measures for the elderly and immunocompromised, rather than stringent lockdowns or restrictions.
- While Israel strengthens its response to COVID-19, the country's marginalized communities face health-protection gaps, prompting calls from NGOs for more inclusive measures to bridge these gaps during the ongoing outbreak.
