Coronavirus cases top 8,000 in Switzerland, death toll at 66

Switzerland reported 1,046 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, raising the total cases in the country to 8,060, while death toll increased from 60 to 66, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health said.

Media reports showed that online purchases soared in Switzerland as citizens reacting to the call of the government to stay at home, which left the logistics sector overloaded in the midst of the pandemic.

As a result, a petition has been launched on Monday by employees in the logistics industry, asking to be allowed to focus exclusively on the distribution of "essential goods" such as food, sanitary and medical products.

Earlier, Switzerland declared the highest level of emergency, prohibiting gatherings of more than five people in public spaces and urging citizens, especially those over 65 years of age, to stay at home to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

A police officer told local media on Monday that basically, the Swiss residents "respected the instructions" during the past weekend.