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 A resurgence of Covid-19 cases in Europe, this time driven by new, fast-spreading Omicron subvariants, is once again threatening to disrupt people's summer plans. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220622/covid-subvariants-cast-shadow-over-european-summer Wed, 22 Jun 2022 18:08:14 +0200 covid-subvariants-cast-shadow-over-european-summer Face masks to curb the spread of Covid have been largely phased out in Switzerland, although they are still required on some international flights. Here’s what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220524/reader-question-do-flights-to-and-from-switzerland-require-face-masks Tue, 24 May 2022 18:48:49 +0200 reader-question-do-flights-to-and-from-switzerland-require-face-masks More than two years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, travel to Switzerland is set to return to normal from May 2nd. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220422/switzerland-to-drop-vaccine-requirement-for-entry-from-may-2nd Fri, 22 Apr 2022 14:11:29 +0200 switzerland-to-drop-vaccine-requirement-for-entry-from-may-2nd Despite a much publicised end to mask rules on April 1st, masks are still required in some places. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220405/reader-question-where-do-i-still-need-to-wear-a-mask-in-switzerland Tue, 05 Apr 2022 12:54:50 +0200 reader-question-where-do-i-still-need-to-wear-a-mask-in-switzerland From Friday, April 1st, Switzerland will remove the final Covid measures. It will mark the first time in two years the nation has been free of Covid rules. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220330/breaking-switzerland-to-remove-all-covid-measures-on-friday Wed, 30 Mar 2022 18:23:06 +0200 breaking-switzerland-to-remove-all-covid-measures-on-friday The remaining coronavirus measures, including the obligation to isolate after testing positive, will fall from Friday. This is what you should know about the new, rule-free Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220330/reader-question-do-i-have-to-stay-home-if-i-catch-covid-in-switzerland-after-april-1st Wed, 30 Mar 2022 17:52:34 +0200 reader-question-do-i-have-to-stay-home-if-i-catch-covid-in-switzerland-after-april-1st Switzerland's contact tracing app SwissCovid will be phased out, with the government saying it is no longer necessary. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220324/switzerland-to-deactivate-swisscovid-app Thu, 24 Mar 2022 13:21:12 +0100 switzerland-to-deactivate-swisscovid-app A new analysis shows that Switzerland ranks in second place in terms of pandemic management when compared with other nations. But is this high score really justified? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220317/was-switzerlands-covid-pandemic-management-second-best-in-the-world Thu, 17 Mar 2022 14:04:19 +0100 was-switzerlands-covid-pandemic-management-second-best-in-the-world One month after the Federal Council lifted nearly all Covid-related restrictions, the number of new infections is on the rise in Switzerland, and more patients have been admitted to hospitals. Here’s what could happen next. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220316/will-switzerland-lift-covid-restrictions-amid-rising-infections Wed, 16 Mar 2022 14:07:45 +0100 will-switzerland-lift-covid-restrictions-amid-rising-infections The UK is set to scrap all Covid-19 travel restrictions in what the government described as a "landmark moment". https://www.thelocal.ch/20220315/travel-in-europe-uk-to-scrap-all-travel-covid-travel-rules Tue, 15 Mar 2022 12:23:56 +0100 travel-in-europe-uk-to-scrap-all-travel-covid-travel-rules Switzerland relaxed almost all Covid measures on February 17th. From traveling to which measures remain in place, here are your questions answered. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220216/qa-everything-you-need-to-know-about-switzerland-relaxing-covid-measures Wed, 16 Feb 2022 17:15:32 +0100 qa-everything-you-need-to-know-about-switzerland-relaxing-covid-measures As of February 17th, Switzerland has scrapped the Covid certificate. But what does this mean for travel? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220217/reader-question-do-swiss-still-need-covid-certificate-to-travel-abroad Thu, 17 Feb 2022 14:27:51 +0100 reader-question-do-swiss-still-need-covid-certificate-to-travel-abroad From Thursday, February 17th, almost all of Switzerland's Covid measures will be removed. Almost two years into the pandemic, why is Switzerland taking this step? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220216/explained-why-did-switzerland-relax-covid-measures Wed, 16 Feb 2022 19:44:45 +0100 explained-why-did-switzerland-relax-covid-measures 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 As expected, the Federal Council announced on Wednesday the near-total lifting of coronavirus measures from February 17th. This is what Switzerland should do to prevent another outbreak and protect people at risk. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220216/analysis-switzerland-ends-most-covid-restrictions-but-whats-next Wed, 16 Feb 2022 17:32:28 +0100 analysis-switzerland-ends-most-covid-restrictions-but-whats-next Switzerland will wind back most Covid restrictions including the Covid certificate and rules for masks and entry from Thursday, February 17th, the Swiss government confirmed on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220216/breaking-switzerland-to-scrap-covid-certificate-most-mask-rules Wed, 16 Feb 2022 15:16:21 +0100 breaking-switzerland-to-scrap-covid-certificate-most-mask-rules Swiss authorities will announce on Wednesday whether they will end all or some of the remaining restrictions — and when. Here's what we know so far about the announcement. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220215/will-switzerland-set-to-relax-all-covid-measures-on-wednesday Tue, 15 Feb 2022 18:07:42 +0100 will-switzerland-set-to-relax-all-covid-measures-on-wednesday The Swiss government's consultation with the cantons has led to disagreement on how the country should progress, with some calling for extending the existing measures and others demanding full scale relaxation. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220210/swiss-cantons-divided-on-ending-covid-measures Thu, 10 Feb 2022 15:53:12 +0100 swiss-cantons-divided-on-ending-covid-measures As the quarantine obligation for contact persons was lifted from Thursday, Swiss government will continue to cover only a limited number of tests. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220204/most-pcr-tests-no-longer-free-in-switzerland Fri, 04 Feb 2022 16:43:39 +0100 most-pcr-tests-no-longer-free-in-switzerland Swiss government and health experts have said that once the number of infections in the country peaks, the pandemic would wind down - and measures will be dropped. But are we there yet? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220203/covid-19-infections-has-switzerland-reached-the-peak-yet Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:33:42 +0100 covid-19-infections-has-switzerland-reached-the-peak-yet