What is allowed and what is not?

The Federal Council has provided information on the new Corona situation. You can find answers to some questions about shops, leisure, sports and home office here.

Shops and shopping
1. Shops can re-open from 1 March: are there any exceptions?
All shops can open, including shops with products for non-daily use. All shops and shopping centres are subject to capacity restrictions and a mask-wearing obligation, however. Shopping centres are only allowed to admit as many people at the same time as would be allowed for all the shops individually.

Museums and libraries
2. As a student, can I use the university library again?
The reading rooms of the university libraries and archives may re-open, but a mask must also be worn at the tables. In addition, only a limited number of people are allowed entry.

3. Is a vernissage or small reception possible for the opening of a new museum exhibition?
No. Museums can open again from 1 March. Events are not allowed, however, and this includes vernissages.

4. Are guided tours allowed in the museum?
Guided tours in museums are considered to be an event, and are not allowed.

Zoos, Recreational Facilities, Sports
5. The outdoor areas of the zoos are opened, why not the monkey house and the vivarium?
It is difficult to maintain the social distance in such places, even with a limited number of visitors. In addition, the risk of transmission indoors is much higher than outside.

6. Is it possible to obtain refreshments from the takeaway stalls at the zoo?
Food stalls are possible. No seating may be provided, however, as is the case everywhere in Switzerland.

7. Do I have to wear a mask on the golf course or while playing tennis outside?
No mask needs to be worn when exercising outside, as long as the social distance is maintained. A maximum group size of 15 people applies in the case of outdoor sports,. Body contact sports are not allowed, nor are competitions. This applies to all persons aged 20 and over (born in 2000 or older). Children and adolescents (born in 2001 or younger) have more possibilities in the field of sport and culture.

8. As a club, can we start training outside again?
Only partially. Team training in sports clubs is not permitted, or only in groups of up to 15 people and without physical contact; Competitions are forbidden - this also applies to local football tournaments.

9. Only the outdoor areas can open in thermal baths and swimming pools. In our thermal bath,you have to swim from the inside to enter the outside area. Does it have to remain closed?
It is allowed to go indoors in order to enter the outdoor pool. The rest of the indoor pools must not be accessible, however or must be cordoned off.

Private meetings indoors and outdoors
10. How many people can I invite to my home?
A maximum of five people may continue to attend private events indoors within the family and within circles of friends. Children will continue to be counted in this number.

11. Can we meet in the circle of friends for ten for barbecues?
If the family and or circle of friends meet outdoors, up to 15 people are allowed. Children are counted in this number.

12. We are planning a small club party outside in the park, with a maximum of 15 people.
Is that is possible?
No, club or community events of this kind are not spontaneous meetings, nor are they covered by the special arrangement for private events (family and friends only) nor by activities in the fields of sport and culture: they are rather considered to be events, and are therefore prohibited. This also applies to other leisure organisations, as well as events in parish communities, district associations and other club activities.

13. Our annual general meeting of the association is due. Can we hold it in the club house, with masks and social distancing?
No. Association meetings, including general meetings, are considered events, and these remain prohibited. Exceptions only apply in individual areas, such as religious services (up to a maximum of 50 people), funerals or political meetings. In addition, meetings of established self-help groups in the areas of addiction and mental health will be allowed from 1 March, but only up to 10 people.

14. Is a rehearsal of a theatre group or a carnival band (Guggenmusik) allowed outside in the wood?
Yes, such activities are possible up to a maximum of 15 people, with mask or social distancing. A theatre performance with an audience is not allowed, however, nor are city tours or concerts outside – all of these are considered to be “forbidden” events.

15. Is singing allowed again?
Yes, singing, rehearsals and music-making is possible for all children and young people born in or after the year 2001, but without performances in front of an audience. In the case of adults, however, singing together in the non-professional area outside the family circle remains prohibited.

Children and adolescents
16. What is now possible for children and adolescents born in or after 2001?
Children and adolescents already have a few privileges up to their 16th birthday, for example in sports. You are allowed to play football or indoor hockey, practice on a climbing wall or rehearse a jazz dance, without a fixed upper limit on people. From 1 March, this margin will now also apply to young people born from 2001 onwards. Competitions are now also allowed to take place, but without an audience.

17. What does 20 years of age mean? Does the date of birth apply?
The decisive factor is the year of birth. The easing restrictions applies to those born in 2001 or later. Persons born in 2000 cannot benefit from the easing of restrictions. This regulation by year of birth is easier to apply, and also follows from the fact that, in sport, the juniors are usually grouped by year of birth.

18. Can we start training and junior championships again at the basketball club?
Yes. Training is allowed for children and adolescents born in or after the year 2001, as well as competitions, both indoors and outdoors. This also applies to contact sports such as martial arts. No audience is allowed in trainings and competitions, so there can be no parents on the edge of the pitch during football or hockey matches.

19. What is the difference from the rules that apply to adults?
Stricter requirements apply for adults born in the year 2000 or earlier. For them, sport is only permitted outdoors (with mask or social distance) and without body contact. This means that sports with physical contact (e.g. football, hockey, basketball and contact sports such as martial arts and couple dancing) are not yet allowed. Outdoor individual or technical training without body contact is possible, however. In addition, only groups of 15 adults are allowed to exercise and train together (except in the professional field).

20. Competitive sports for young people
In junior performance sports, there are also an easing of restrictions for athletes who do not belong to a national team or national squad of a sports federation. Those competitive athletes who have a National or Regional Talent Card from Swiss Olympic are allowed to train. Around 8,000 people currently have a Regional Card. Of these, just under half are over 16 years of age. With the proposed solution, almost 4,000 16- to 19-year-olds can continue on their way in top-class sport. From an epidemiological point of view, this increase in active sports activities does not pose a risk; the protection concepts of the individual sports federations apply in all training sessions.

Youth meetings and culture
21. Can music bands, youth orchestras and youth choirs rehearse together again?
Rehearsals and concerts (including choir) are allowed for young people born in the year 2001 or later. Performances in front of the audience remain forbidden for the time being, above all to protect the audience. Rehearsals or performances can be filmed and be transmitted online, however.

22. The Youth Orchestra runs a music camp every spring. Will this e possible in 2021?
Yes. Such camps are allowed for young people born in the year 2001 or later. These will require a protection concept, however.

23. Can we arrange to meet friends at the youth club/centre?
Youth clubs can re-open. There must be a specialist present, and there is a requirement to wear masks for all children and young people over the age of 12.

24. Can I have my birthday party at the youth club?
No. Festivals, discos and concerts are not allowed. Food and drink must also not be served.

25. Can I organise a barbecue evening with colleagues (14 to 17-year-olds) outside at the lake shore?
The same rules apply to everyone here: a maximum of five people are allowed inside, a maximum of 15 people outside. The easing of the restrictions for children and adolescents up to the age of 20 only applies to sports, culture and youth work activities, such as youth meetings or the Boy Scouts/Girl Guides (Pfadi).

26. Are Boy/Girl Scouts (Pfadis) events allowed?
Pfadi training sessions and excursions were already possible. They are part of the youth & sport sector. The age bracket will also be raised to date of birth 2001 here as of 1 March.

Home-office
27. Why is the obligation for home office being kept?
Employers remain obliged to arrange home office work wherever this is possible due to the nature of the activity, and if this can be implemented with a proportionate effort. The goal is to reduce the number of contacts. For the time being, this will continue to apply until the end of March.

28. If I have to work in the home office, will I receive compensation for the expenses at home?
No, the employer does not have to pay the employee any compensation for additional expenses (electricity costs, contributions to rental costs, etc.), as this is only a temporary arrangement. Employers must, however, take appropriate organisational and technical measures to enable home office. These must be feasible with a reasonable effort.

29. If home office working is not possible for operational reasons, how are employees to be protected?
Where home office is not possible or only partially possible, further measures are needed at the workplace. As in the past, a mask requirement should apply to protect workers indoors wherever there is more than one person in a room. In view of the high risk of infection, a larger distance between workplaces in the same room is no longer sufficient.

Source: FAQ - Measures taken by the Federal Council