Swiss group lights 11,288 candles for COVID-19 victims

Swill group lights up over 11,000 candles outside the parliament in Bern for each victim of the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday.

Simon Gehren of the Corona-Mahnwache (corona vigil) stated that, “We want to create a space to remember and mourn the victims.

“Around 40 volunteers helped light the candles arranged geometrically on the square that is Switzerland’s political centre. The group organised a similar event last year.”

Gehren said the vigil was also an appeal to the government to take firmer action to contain soaring infection numbers.

Switzerland has seen a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases over the last weeks. It tightened measures last week, but has been less strict than neighbouring countries, such as Germany or Austria.

Swiss health authorities said that, 11,288 people had died with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.

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Kamila/Reuters