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 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 Researchers in Basel have developed a rapid test to determine Covid antibodies. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220125/swiss-researchers-develop-rapid-covid-antibody-test Tue, 25 Jan 2022 11:13:01 +0100 swiss-researchers-develop-rapid-covid-antibody-test If you test positive on a rapid-antigen test, you no longer need to take a PCR test to confirm the result, Switzerland's Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) told Swiss media on Friday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220108/switzerland-to-drop-pcr-tests-for-confirming-positive-rapid-antigen-tests Sat, 08 Jan 2022 19:06:34 +0100 switzerland-to-drop-pcr-tests-for-confirming-positive-rapid-antigen-tests Some early indications have suggested that antigen tests sometimes fail to detect Omicron infections. What is the latest situation in Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220107/switzerland-do-antigen-tests-detect-omicron Fri, 07 Jan 2022 13:33:16 +0100 switzerland-do-antigen-tests-detect-omicron Some Covid tests are free in Switzerland, with the government in late December agreeing to cover the costs for the first time since early October. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211220/covid-testing-free-again-in-switzerland-what-you-need-to-know Mon, 20 Dec 2021 14:04:44 +0100 covid-testing-free-again-in-switzerland-what-you-need-to-know Switzerland has again agreed to cover the costs of some Covid tests, but does this apply to pharmacy-bought take-at-home tests? https://www.thelocal.ch/20211221/reader-question-are-self-tests-now-free-in-switzerland-again Tue, 21 Dec 2021 11:01:40 +0100 reader-question-are-self-tests-now-free-in-switzerland-again Almost everyone arriving in Switzerland will need to complete at least one Covid test. Here’s what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211206/travel-what-are-switzerlands-covid-test-requirements Mon, 06 Dec 2021 14:14:02 +0100 travel-what-are-switzerlands-covid-test-requirements The Swiss government has responded to criticism surrounding its PCR test requirement, changing the rules slightly for those arriving in the country who have already had the virus.  https://www.thelocal.ch/20211214/switzerland-eases-pcr-test-rule-for-travellers-recovered-from-covid Tue, 14 Dec 2021 17:39:29 +0100 switzerland-eases-pcr-test-rule-for-travellers-recovered-from-covid The Swiss government looks set to make Covid testing free again, although exactly which tests are covered remains unclear. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211207/which-covid-tests-will-become-free-in-switzerland Tue, 07 Dec 2021 14:11:07 +0100 which-covid-tests-will-become-free-in-switzerland If you are planning a foreign trip in the coming weeks, be ready to pay higher costs than before when leaving and re-entering Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211207/switzerlands-new-testing-rules-how-much-travelling-abroad-now-costs Tue, 07 Dec 2021 11:31:53 +0100 switzerlands-new-testing-rules-how-much-travelling-abroad-now-costs A return to free nationwide Covid testing looks likely, less than two months after Switzerland phased out free Covid testing. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211202/will-switzerland-make-covid-testing-free-once-more Thu, 02 Dec 2021 17:50:49 +0100 will-switzerland-make-covid-testing-free-once-more As coronavirus screening is no longer free in Switzerland, some residents of border areas get tested in France. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211018/swiss-residents-crossing-border-to-france-for-cheaper-covid-tests Mon, 18 Oct 2021 15:31:41 +0200 swiss-residents-crossing-border-to-france-for-cheaper-covid-tests Screening for coronavirus is no longer free of charge for unvaccinated people, but the cost varies from one place to another. Here’s an overview of some prices in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211012/how-much-do-covid-tests-now-cost-in-switzerland Tue, 12 Oct 2021 15:19:07 +0200 how-much-do-covid-tests-now-cost-in-switzerland As of Monday, October 11th, Covid testing is no longer free in Switzerland. Here’s what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211011/switzerland-ends-free-covid-testing-everything-you-need-to-know Mon, 11 Oct 2021 15:09:42 +0200 switzerland-ends-free-covid-testing-everything-you-need-to-know Swiss experts are considering excluding people who test negative to coronavirus from the Covid certificate, thereby adopting a '2G' rather than the current '3G' approach. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211011/covid-certificate-will-switzerland-adopt-the-2g-strategy Mon, 11 Oct 2021 13:43:13 +0200 covid-certificate-will-switzerland-adopt-the-2g-strategy The Swiss government has announced it would cover the cost of Covid screening for unvaccinated residents longer than originally planned. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210927/updated-switzerland-extends-its-free-testing-strategy Mon, 27 Sep 2021 14:30:09 +0200 updated-switzerland-extends-its-free-testing-strategy Switzerland will tighten Covid certificate rules from Monday, September 13th. Here’s how to get the certificate with a negative test. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210910/explained-how-to-get-switzerlands-covid-certificate-with-a-negative-test Fri, 10 Sep 2021 19:52:31 +0200 explained-how-to-get-switzerlands-covid-certificate-with-a-negative-test People who have not been vaccinated will be require to pay for their own Covid tests from October 1st. President Guy Parmelin said vaccinated taxpayers should not have to pay for testing for those who choose to remain unvaccinated. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210811/switzerland-set-to-end-free-covid-testing-for-unvaccinated-reports Wed, 11 Aug 2021 13:33:12 +0200 switzerland-set-to-end-free-covid-testing-for-unvaccinated-reports Switzerland has made testing free for travel for all residents - but what about those visiting Switzerland? Here’s what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210719/how-tourists-and-visitors-in-switzerland-can-get-a-free-covid-test Mon, 19 Jul 2021 11:45:40 +0200 how-tourists-and-visitors-in-switzerland-can-get-a-free-covid-test Anyone who needs to take an antigen test for the purposes of travel will now have the costs covered by the Swiss government. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210708/antigen-testing-for-travel-now-free-in-switzerland Thu, 08 Jul 2021 13:40:49 +0200 antigen-testing-for-travel-now-free-in-switzerland