The Swiss government has decided to drop most of their coronavirus restrictions as record-high Omicron variant infections haven’t caused correlating hospitalizations.
QUICK FACTS:
- Switzerland is lifting the large majority of its coronavirus restrictions as of this Thursday, according to SwissInfo.
- Government officials cited the dissidence between record high Omicron variant positive cases not leading to correlating records of hospitalizations.
- The nation is doing away with its controversial COVID certificate, which was used to prove the user was vaccinated or had tested negative or recovered from COVID-19.
- “Switzerland is taking a decisive and important step towards normality,” said Ignazio Cassis, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year.
- Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will still be required to go into isolation for five days, according to SwissInfo.
WHAT WILL BE CHANGING:
- The Swiss will no longer have to show covid certificates at bars, restaurants, and other indoor venues like theaters and concerts.
- Masks will no longer be required in schools, shops, concert halls, or at work, but will remain compulsory until the end of March on public transport and in healthcare facilities.
- Authorities in Switzerland will, however, still provide Covid certificates required by the European Union, for Swiss residents who wish to travel abroad.
BACKGROUND:
- In September of last year, the Swiss government required that anyone entering Switzerland who has not ether been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 must present a negative test result, according to The Federal Council’s website.
- According to officials, over 90% of Switzerland’s population of 8.6 million people have protection against the virus, either through recovery or vaccination, Reuters reported.
