New Corona measures of the Federal Council

In order to prevent the number of cases from exploding due to the upcoming festive season, the Federal Council (Bundesrat) is calling on the cantons to take stricter measures. The government will be reaching out to those cantons with an Reproduction Rate of 1 or more to encourage them to put restrictions into place. This would currently affect the cantons of: Schwyz, St Gallen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Aargau, Basel Land, Graubünden (Grisons) and Schaffhausen, who all have a rate of over 1.
Lucerne has a rate of 0.92; Zug of 0.91.

In addition, it has itself decided on further restrictions, which will apply from 9^th December.
The overview:

• The number of people who are allowed to stay in a shop at the same time will be reduced. The capacity restriction will be tightened until further notice, and will be reduced to 10 square metres per customer in larger stores, from today's 4 square metres.
• Restaurants throughout Switzerland must be collect the contact details of one guest per table, as has already been introduced is several cantons. The curfew will exceptionally be extended from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on New Year's Eve in order to reduce the risk of disorderly meetings in private settings, says the Federal Council.
• Singing is forbidden outside the family circle and compulsory schools, both outdoors and indoors. The ban not only covers choirs, but also singing together in divine services and at certain New Year's Eve customs that are associated with chants.
• The Federal Council strongly recommends that meetings in private and restaurants be limited to two households, thereby keeping the number of contacts as low as possible. The limit of 10 people will be maintained.
• In order to further reduce the number of contacts and flows of people, the home office recommendation is also to be implemented consistently. The Federal Council is once again calling on employers to enable home office where possible. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for workers to reduce their contacts to a minimum before the festive period.
• Ski resorts should be able to be open to domestic tourism. Where the epidemiological situation is critical, it must first be improved with measures. The ski resorts will need a permit from the canton from 22 December. The prerequisite for this is that the epidemiological situation allows this, and that sufficient capacities are ensured in hospitals, for contact tracing and for testing. The operators of ski resorts must also submit strict protection concepts that implement the nationally uniform requirements.
• There are no capacity limits for ski resorts. However, only two thirds of the seats may be filled in all closed means of transport, i.e. in trains, cabins and gondolas, from 9^th December. This applies to seats and standing places. A mask requirement applies on all lifts, including ski and chairlifts. A mask must be worn when standing, and the social distance must be maintained.
• Guests may only be allowed inside restaurants in ski resorts if a table is available for them. The existing rules also continue to apply inside and on the terraces: consumption only when sitting, and a maximum of four people per table, except for parents with children.
• The cantons are obliged to check the rules. If any significant problems are identified, the ski area operators must be warned. If the abuses continue, the authorisation must be withdrawn. The cantons must also report to the Confederation on the number of inspections, the warnings issued and the withdrawal of authorisations, as well as on the capacity utilisation of the hospitals.-

The Federal Council will carry out an interim assessment at an extraordinary meeting on 8^th December and will adopt stricter measures on 11^th December if the cantons have not taken the necessary measures to reduce the figures.

THE MEASURES REGARDING WINTER SPORTS:

Cantonal authorisation required from 22 December
 Will only be granted if the epidemiological situation in the canton permits

Capacity restriction
Closed vehicles (trains, gondolas, cable cars): Only 2/3 can be occupied

Mask obligation
On all forms of transport, including ski and chairlifts and when waiting
 

Minimum distance
of 1.5 metres when queuing

Restaurants in ski resorts
Entry only permitted if a table is available indoors

Protection concept
Winter sports resorts must have a protection concept
Source: Federal Council 04.12.20