https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The EU has announced that its Covid travel certificate will be extended until 2023. Claudia Delpero looks at what this mean if you have a trip planned this year. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220629/eu-extends-covid-travel-certificates-until-2023 Wed, 29 Jun 2022 13:03:39 +0200 eu-extends-covid-travel-certificates-until-2023 In the coming months, millions of Covid certificates are set to expire in Switzerland. What will the government do about it? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220523/what-will-switzerland-do-about-the-millions-of-expiring-covid-certificates Mon, 23 May 2022 14:09:14 +0200 what-will-switzerland-do-about-the-millions-of-expiring-covid-certificates Several Swiss cantons have expressed a desire to keep the Covid certificate in place. What does that mean for the relaxation of Covid measures? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220216/reader-question-which-swiss-cantons-will-keep-the-covid-certificate-in-place Wed, 16 Feb 2022 18:48:11 +0100 reader-question-which-swiss-cantons-will-keep-the-covid-certificate-in-place Due to shorter validity, hundreds of thousands of Covid certificates are set to expire on February 1st. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220131/switzerland-hundreds-of-thousands-of-covid-certificates-to-expire-on-tuesday Mon, 31 Jan 2022 13:34:17 +0100 switzerland-hundreds-of-thousands-of-covid-certificates-to-expire-on-tuesday Despite skyrocketing Covid numbers, Switzerland’s hospitals and all-important ICUs remain relatively stable. Voices calling for a relaxation of Covid measures are growing louder. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220126/switzerland-pressure-grows-to-relax-covid-measures Wed, 26 Jan 2022 16:45:13 +0100 switzerland-pressure-grows-to-relax-covid-measures While uncertainties about the evolution of the Omicron variant still remain, improvement on the epidemiological front is on the horizon, a Swiss health expert says. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220124/covid-19-what-will-summer-2022-look-like-in-switzerland Mon, 24 Jan 2022 17:03:54 +0100 covid-19-what-will-summer-2022-look-like-in-switzerland Amid the dual impact of vaccination protection and the comparatively mild Omicron variant, some experts have called for the abolition of the Covid certificate. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220120/should-switzerland-abolish-the-covid-certificate Thu, 20 Jan 2022 17:09:19 +0100 should-switzerland-abolish-the-covid-certificate Due to a shortage of PCR tests, those who test positive via antigen tests will be entitled to a Covid certificate. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220120/swiss-covid-certificate-antigen-tests-now-accepted-for-recovered-status Thu, 20 Jan 2022 14:19:35 +0100 swiss-covid-certificate-antigen-tests-now-accepted-for-recovered-status The winter spike in Covid infections across Europe means another ski season will take place under health restrictions and recommendations. Here's what you need to know about the rules in different countries. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211023/compare-what-covid-rules-are-in-place-for-the-ski-season-across-europe Sat, 23 Oct 2021 11:51:22 +0200 compare-what-covid-rules-are-in-place-for-the-ski-season-across-europe The certificate in Switzerland, whether in digital or paper form, contains a QR code, which is scanned by checkers in restaurants, bars, and other indoor venues. What personal information does it reveal? https://www.thelocal.ch/20210924/reader-question-which-of-my-personal-details-do-staff-see-when-scanning-my-swiss-covid-certificate Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:48:31 +0200 reader-question-which-of-my-personal-details-do-staff-see-when-scanning-my-swiss-covid-certificate Rules related to certificates, and Covid-19 in general, are changing quickly in Switzerland. This is what may lie ahead. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211222/do-you-need-a-booster-shot-for-the-swiss-covid-certificate Wed, 22 Dec 2021 13:18:56 +0100 do-you-need-a-booster-shot-for-the-swiss-covid-certificate When the Federal Council announced the ‘2G’ rule to go into effect in Switzerland on December 20th, it also referred to ‘2G-Plus’ in certain situations. What is this ‘plus’ rule and when must it be used? https://www.thelocal.ch/20211220/explained-what-is-switzerlands-2g-plus-rule Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:11:33 +0100 explained-what-is-switzerlands-2g-plus-rule After an unvaccinated woman in Bern was turned away from a hospital emergency department, readers have asked us for the rules for hospital admissions. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211208/do-you-need-a-covid-certificate-to-go-to-hospital-in-switzerland Wed, 08 Dec 2021 14:06:00 +0100 do-you-need-a-covid-certificate-to-go-to-hospital-in-switzerland Landing or arriving in Switzerland only to transit elsewhere? Here’s what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211208/update-what-are-the-covid-rules-for-transiting-through-switzerland Wed, 08 Dec 2021 12:37:23 +0100 update-what-are-the-covid-rules-for-transiting-through-switzerland A number of Switzerland’s slopes adjoin those of its neighbours, which have their own rules pertaining to Covid certificates. This is what you should know if you want to ski in those border areas. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211206/cross-border-skiing-what-do-swiss-residents-need-to-ski-in-neighbouring-countries Mon, 06 Dec 2021 15:48:23 +0100 cross-border-skiing-what-do-swiss-residents-need-to-ski-in-neighbouring-countries Among tighter Covid measures that Swiss authorities announced on Friday is the possibility of implementing restrictions on the unvaccinated. While Switzerland's president says it's 'conceivable', health experts say it doesn't go far enough. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211206/2g-will-switzerland-further-tighten-the-covid-certificate Mon, 06 Dec 2021 12:15:12 +0100 2g-will-switzerland-further-tighten-the-covid-certificate Switzerland has flagged a Covid certificate requirement for private gatherings with more than 11 people. How will this be enforced? https://www.thelocal.ch/20211201/explained-how-will-switzerland-enforce-the-covid-certificate-in-private-homes Wed, 01 Dec 2021 14:40:46 +0100 explained-how-will-switzerland-enforce-the-covid-certificate-in-private-homes From the legacy of Nazi policies to a widespread belief in alternative medicine, German-speaking Europe has made itself vulnerable to the emotion-laden appeals of the anti-vaccine movement. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211124/why-is-german-speaking-europe-lagging-on-covid-vaccines Wed, 24 Nov 2021 13:00:45 +0100 why-is-german-speaking-europe-lagging-on-covid-vaccines Almost two-thirds of Swiss voters said on Sunday they supported the country’s Covid certificate. Will the government use it as a mandate to tighten measures? https://www.thelocal.ch/20211129/will-switzerland-tighten-measures-after-successful-covid-referendum Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:01:54 +0100 will-switzerland-tighten-measures-after-successful-covid-referendum From Monday, the first Swiss cantons will start administering booster shots. Do these extend the validity of the Covid certificate https://www.thelocal.ch/20211129/reader-question-does-a-booster-shot-extend-the-validity-of-switzerlands-covid-certificate Mon, 29 Nov 2021 14:19:31 +0100 reader-question-does-a-booster-shot-extend-the-validity-of-switzerlands-covid-certificate