Federal Council to review Covid restrictions

As the Covid situation continues to improve (numbers of cases under 1,000, and more and more people being vaccinated), the government feels that the following restrictions should be lifted or changed as of 28 June 2021:

It should no longer be mandatory to wear masks in publicly-accessible outdoors areas, leisure centres, trains stations and bus stops, as well as on the outside decks of ships and chairlifts.

Masks should no longer mandatory in the workplace, the employer still has the obligation to ensure the safety of his/her employees however.

The wearing of masks should no longer be mandatory for secondary level schools. The cantons will once again become responsible for rules at grammar schools, technical secondary schools and vocational schools.

The group size per table in restaurants should be increased from four to six people. As before, the seating requirement remains mandatory indoors, but is to be abolished outdoors. The Federal Council also wants to lift the restriction on guest group size and the mask requirement on terraces, but contact details must still be provided.

The quarantine obligation for people entering from all states and territories of the Schengen area is to be completely lifted. Third-country nationals are also to be allowed to enter again.

Nightclubs should be allowed to re-open their dance floors after months of closure, but only people with Covid certificate – i.e. vaccinated, recovered or tested – should be allowed to enter. A maximum of 250 people can be present. They should not have to wear a mask, but should provide their contact information.

The Covid-19 certificate should be mandatory for groups of more than 1,000 people. Up to 3,000 people – with masks – should be able to participate in indoor events, and 5,000 at outdoors events. Stores, leisure businesses and sports facilities should also be able to make more use off their capacities again, according to the Federal Council. Aquaparks are to re-open, with space restrictions for all guests.

The Federal Council sent the above and other proposals into consultation with the cantons. It will make and announce its final decision on June 23.