The Swiss Federal Council has decided to alleviate rules for travelers entering Switzerland while at the same time tightening testing rules. There will be no countries on the quarantine list, just new rules for travelers.
The council confirmed yesterday in a press release that “In order to continue to prevent the new Omicron variant from entering the country as far as possible, a stricter testing regime will now apply for all arrivals into Switzerland. This testing requirement also applies to those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from the disease.”
Amongst the many notable points in the release, the highlights include:
- Quarantine is no longer mandatory
- A second test (PCR or rapid antigen) between the fourth and seventh day upon travelers’ arrival into Switzerland is now required
- Travellers should cover the test costs themselves
For those who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 and wish to enter Switzerland, they will only be allowed if they show proof of employment or hardship. Others who look to enter for a short-term stay will be refused entry.
Aside from reastructions to travel, the Council is cognizant of the newly detected Omicron variant and has approved several more measures to curb the spread of the virus.
First is extending the requirement of immunity proof in order to attend indoor spaces at all public events, as well as amateur sporting and cultural activities. The only exemption is for, “fixed groups of fewer than 30 people is rescinded. A certificate requirement will now apply to outdoor events with over 300 people. The limit until now had been 1,000 people,” said the Council
Second is the change that rapid antigen tests will be valid for only 24 hours and not for 48 hours as they were before. But for those who opt for PCR tests, their results will continue to be valid for 72 hours.