Covid-19: Switzerland to end most restrictions, including vaccine passports, later this month

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Swiss government has announced a proposal to lift most Covid restrictions, which are currently in place in the country, later this month. The Swiss Federal Council is expected to approve the proposal this Wednesday.

“Starting next week, I think we can discuss lifting the quarantine and ‘home office’ requirements,” Swiss Health Minister Alain Berset told reporters Friday.

The Swiss Federal Council is expected to approve Berset’s proposal this Wednesday.

This would mean that, as of Wednesday, people who have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19 will no longer have to self-isolate. This includes people who live in the same household as someone who tests positive.

In addition, as of February 16, the so-called Covid certificates or vaccine passport requirements (referred to as the 2G rule in Switzerland and other German-speaking countries) will also be eliminated.

So will capacity limits for large events or maximum attendance for private meetings.

According to the Swiss newspaper Blick, Switzerland’s situation in hospitals and intensive care units “has eased considerably”. Although hospitalizations for Covid are still occurring, “cases tend to be much milder.”

The only restriction that is believed to remain in place for some time after February 16 is the facemask mandate.

Switzerland’s announcement comes after several other European countries, including the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic, have announced the lifting or relaxation of their ‘Covid restrictions’.