Federal Government reacts to increasing number of Covid-19 infections

The Swiss Federal Government has reacted to the growing number of Covid-19 infections in Europe. From Monday, September 28, anyone coming to Switzerland from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium and Portugal will have to go into quarantine for ten days under Swiss rules.

The Swiss list of countries subject to quarantine now numbers 59 countries and regions worldwide. Other countries added include Denmark, The Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, Hungary, Morocco and Oman, as well as several regions in France and Austria. On the other hand, Kosovo and San Marino have now been taken off the list.

This comes about a month after the UK placed Switzerland on its 14-day quarantine list.

The full list of the FOPH/BAG can be found here.

The situation in Switzerland (from www.swissinfo.ch)

From mid-June onwards, the number of new cases of Covid-19 has been rising steadily. Authorities are focusing on a combination of measures and restrictions to keep the situation under control.

• The number of new positive cases has increased in recent weeks, with the average case count almost at 60 per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks.
   
• Travel is possible between Switzerland and the European Union, EFTA countries and the UK. Travellers from Switzerland to the UK must go into quarantine for 14 days.
   
• Those travelling from most non-Schengen countries, including the US, can only enter Switzerland in exceptional cases. A list of the non-Schengen countries not affected by this ban can be found here. Citizens and residents of Switzerland may always enter Switzerland.
   
• Those who come to Switzerland from "high-risk" countries and regions must undergo a ten-day quarantine or face a fine. The list of countries and regions deemed high-risk is updated regularly by the authorities.
   
• Face masks are mandatory on Swiss public transport, air flights and at Basel and Geneva airports. Nine cantons (Zurich, Vaud, Geneva, Basel City, Valais, Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Solothurn and Jura) have decided to make face masks mandatory in shops. Canton Vaud has made them mandatory in all public closed spaces.
   
• Switzerland expects a budget deficit of CHF3.1 billion for 2020. Extraordinary Covid-19 expenditure amounts to CHF17.8 billion, meaning an expected total funding deficit of CHF20.9 billion.
   
• Organisers of events of more than 1,000 people can apply for permits to take place after October 1.
   

Latest figures for Switzerland - as at 25 September 2020 (source FOPH/BAG)

              new     total since start of pandemic

Infections confirmed by laboratory              372                  51,864
Hospitalisations                                               10                     4,819
Deaths                                                                  2                     1,778
Number of tests                                        12,346              1,326,290

People in isolation                                          2,182
Of those, in quarantine                                  4,755
Additional persons in quarantine
after entering Switzerland                            10,140