A key route between Switzerland and Italy is closed because of avalanche; a gross sales tax on sugary meals and drinks is being sought; and different information in our Friday roundup.
As we speak, Good Friday, is a public vacation in most of Switzerland — besides in Valais and Ticino.
Within the different 24 cantons, nevertheless, nearly all of companies and outlets are closed, the identical as on Easter Sunday:
READ ALSO: What’s open and closed in Switzerland over Easter weekend?
Authorities shut the Grand-St-Bernard highway because of avalanches
Within the aftermath of an avalanche which occurred on the Grand-St-Bernard (A21) highway on Thursday, the tunnel connecting canton Valais with Italy can be closed to all site visitors till the harm has been assessed and person security assured.
“The closure of this tunnel briefly interrupts the reference to Italy,” the Federal Street Workplace (ASTRA) stated in a press launch, including that one other route towards that nation, the Simplon Cross (A9), can be closed.
Throughout the heavy snowfall, which affected your entire canton of Valais, an avalanche was triggered within the Toules tunnel on the Grand-St-Bernard highway, which is positioned in entrance of the doorway to the Grand-St-Bernard tunnel.
“Preliminary investigations have proven that the tunnel reveals some harm. This harm have to be assessed additional,” in accordance with ASTRA.
As a result of remaining danger of avalanches within the space, nevertheless, the tunnel will stay closed till additional discover.
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The Residents‘ Meeting seeks to impose ‘sugar tax’ on sure meals and drinks
The Residents‘ Meeting — 100 folks chosen at random from throughout Switzerland to replicate the nation’s linguistic, regional, and demographic range — help the introduction of taxes on sugary meals and drinks.
This measure is one in all six health-promoting reforms adopted by the Meeting.
The proposals „replicate the reforms that the inhabitants considers most pressing to advertise well being and, in the long run, cut back healthcare prices,“ the Residents‘ Meeting introduced .
This physique additionally desires to extend present taxes on alcohol and tobacco and goals to „strengthen well being literacy in any respect phases of life,“ implement a nationwide well being regulation, in addition to develop nationwide info campaigns on well being points.
The meeting’s ultimate report can be submitted to the Well being Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider on Might twentieth.
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Poisonous foam present in ingesting water at, and close to, the EuroAirport
The ingesting water round Basel’s airport is closely contaminated — 4 occasions the authorized restrict — with poisonous microparticles.
The reason being stated to be a PFAS-containing firefighting foam utilized in coaching workouts on the airport.
Round 60,000 residents of Saint-Louis, France, the place the airport is positioned near the Swiss border, are stated to be affected by this chemical, identified to trigger most cancers and different sicknesses.
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