A shopper taking advantage of the chance to buy home improvement supplies on April 27, the first time in weeks
(Alexandra Wey/Keystone)Switzerland has eased unprecedented Covid-19 restrictions in a bid to avoid further damage to the economy. This is where things stand and the latest on the measures in place.
- An "extraordinary situation" is in place, resulting in a ban on all private and public events and the closure of schools, restaurants, bars, sporting facilities and cultural spaces.
- A three-step easing of emergency lockdown measures began on April 27. With protection measures for staff and customers, hair stylists, beauticians and physiotherapists can re-open their doors, along with florists and garden/DIY stores. Dental and medical centres can offer non-urgent care.
- In announcing the easing of measures, the government urged the population to continue following social distancing and hygiene recommendations. The ban on gatherings of more than five people remains in place.
- The government has decided not to impose a general obligation for the public to wear face masks as it relaxes restrictions.
- The government has issued a recommendation to all citizens to stay at home, especially the sick and the elderly. It has announced various measures to help support the economy.
How does Switzerland plan to ease the coronavirus lockdown?
The federal government announced on April 16 an easing in three steps of measures aimed at combatting the pandemic. The deliberate approach to loosening the lockdown is based on recommendations from experts and the weighing of a number of factors, the government said, including the need to continue protecting the public, particularly those at high risk, and the economic benefits of a gradual lifting of measures.
In the first phase, which began on April 27, hair salons, physiotherapists, hospital outpatient services, medical and dental offices, florists, DIY shops and garden centres were allowed to re-open with precautionary measures in place. This may include wearing protective face masks.
Measures that currently restrict funeral services to immediate family will also be lifted during this phase. However, a plan to allow supermarkets to sell non-essential items has been put off until May 11, following a storm of protest from small businesses. Supermarkets and pharmacies have remained open throughout the crisis.
On April 29, the government will make a decision on whether to proceed with the second phase, which would begin on May 11. Schools for children of compulsory-school age would re-open, along with all shops and markets. It is possible that restaurants will also be allowed to re-open.
A third phase would start on June 8 and see the re-opening of upper secondary and vocational schools, plus universities and other higher education institutions. Further decisions on this phase, including the possible lifting of bans on entertainment and leisure facilities, such as museums and libraries, will be taken at the end of May.
The government will decide at a future sitting of the Federal Council when to allow large-scale events to take place again.
To protect staff during the phase-out of lockdown measures, employers must allow those at especially high risk to work from home or adapt the work environment and procedures. High-risk persons can also refuse to work if they consider the risk to be too high and be entitled to leave with pay.
Lockdown measures in place since March
Due to the spread of the coronavirus, the government categorised the situation in the country as "extraordinary". This allows the authorities to take over certain powers from the 26 cantons and to impose measures, including bans on events. The application of these legal provisions is a first for Switzerland.
The government ordered on March 16 the closure of bars, restaurants, sports facilities and cultural spaces. Only businesses providing essential goods – such as grocery stores, bakeries and pharmacies – were allowed to stay open, along with banks and post offices.
The federal government also introduced a countrywide ban on gatherings of more than five people in public places. Schools and universities are also closed, although some are turning to online and distance learning.
The government still recommends that the sick, and people 65 or older, stay at home.
Major events have been cancelled, including the Geneva International Motor Show, the Montreux Jazz Festival and the Baselworld watch fair. Art Basel, originally scheduled for June, has postponed the fair until September.
All top-flight Swiss football and ice-hockey games have also been called off, as have numerous local social, political and cultural events.
The Swiss Post has reduced services. It can no longer send letters or packages to a long list of countries due to the cancellation of many international flights.
The planned nationwide ballot scheduled for May 17, which included a proposal to scrap an accord with the European Union on the free movement of people, has been postponed. A new date will be set by the end of May.
What's the current situation in Switzerland?
Switzerland is among the countries most affected by the pandemic in Europe, with over 28,000 cases and more than 1,600 deaths. Cantons Ticino, Vaud, Geneva and Valais are the hardest hit. The rate of new coronavirus cases, however, began to slow over the Easter weekend, and the number of people hospitalised has stabilised.
Since the beginning of the crisis, Switzerland has ramped up testing for the coronavirus to achieve one of the highest per capita rates of testing in the world. More than 6,000 tests are being carried out in Switzerland per day and cantons have been ramping up their testing capacity.
+ What is Switzerland's approach to testing for coronavirus?
The government said it planned an extended testing strategy along with a contact tracing concept as it moved to ease social distancing measures.
However, it has decided not to impose a general obligation to wear protective face masks. Instead it recommends that people wear them when travelling by public transport at rush hour. Retail customers may also be asked to wear masks as a protective measure when visiting shops.
The armed forces are planning on buying up to 100 million masks, which will be sold to retailers at purchasing price. The government has a budget of up to CHF400 million ($412 million) to provide the different types of masks. But it is the responsibility of hospitals, companies and private households to ensure a stock.
The government has maintained that daily supplies of medicine and food are guaranteed. Authorities, however, have rationed some common painkiller and anti-fever drugs to prevent panic buying.
Financial relief measures
Officials from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) have said that wages for the month of March are guaranteed, although in some cases there might be delays.
In total the government has set aside around CHF62 billion to support the economy. On April 3, it announced it was doubling the amount of emergency loans available to struggling companies to CHF40 billion ($41 billion). It has since presented a plan to offer additional loans totaling up to CHF154 million for start-up companies.
The promised economic package provides relief for companies with liquidity problems to obtain transitional bank loans. Companies hit by the crisis will be able to defer payment of social insurance contributions temporarily and without interest. These measures also apply to self-employed persons whose turnover has fallen.
The government is also throwing a lifeline to businesses threatened by bankruptcy. Firms can delay declaring their financial difficulties to the courts, with smaller companies being given at least three months' grace to pay off their debts.
There is also money to fund the imposition of short-time work at firms while other tranches have been set aside for hardship loans and to support specific sectors such as event management.
Partial unemployment claims have increased sharply due to the pandemic and are expected to continue to rise. As of April 4, almost a quarter of the Swiss working population (1.3 million people) were on short-time work, according to SECO.
Finance minister Ueli Maurer warned that the shutdown of the Swiss economy could result in a deficit of up to CHF40 billion this year.
Various institutes and banks are predicting a recession in 2020, followed by a bounce back in 2021 – if the virus situation is resolved in the coming months.
A return to border controls and entry restrictions
On March 25 the Swiss government extended entry restrictions to all Schengen and non-Schengen states.
Only Swiss citizens, Swiss residents, those entering the country for professional reasons (e.g., those who work here and have a permit to prove it), and those transiting through, can enter. Even foreign partners of Swiss citizens, who do not have a right of residence in the country, will be turned away.
The government announced on April 16 that fines will be imposed on those who travel to neighbouring countries for cross-border shopping.
On March 27 Swiss military police officers and a militia battalion were sent to the border to provide support to the Federal Customs Administration.
+ What to expect at Swiss borders and airports
What are the consequences for the healthcare system?
The pandemic has put pressure on the healthcare system. In Switzerland there are 82 intensive care units, which have a total of 950-1,000 beds; around 850 of the beds are equipped with respirators. The army has around 100 additional respirators and put in an order for 900 more.
However, the system is not saturated, Swiss president Simonetta Sommaruga confirmed on April 16. Several hospitals have been able to admit Covid-19 patients from neighbouring France.
Numerous hospitals and nursing homes are prohibiting visits.
The army is providing the cantons with additional ambulances and 800 army personnel are ready to provide assistance if necessary.
+ Swiss militia get historic call up to fight Covid-19
In addition, for the first time the Swiss army is deploying a hospital battalion to support other civilian hospitals; it can welcome 200 patients. To cope with the expected increase in the number of sick people, many cantons have also mobilised civil defence volunteers.
What's the risk of becoming infected with the new coronavirus in Switzerland?
The risk of contracting the new coronavirus in Switzerland is currently moderate, according to the Health Office.
However, the number of cases still puts Switzerland among the most affected countries in Europe; current figures from around the world can be found here. Advice regarding the usage of hankies and the practice of handshakes was published in all major newspapers following the outbreak. This has been updated to include "keep your distance".
+ Switzerland issues handshake and hanky rules
In order to prevent and slow down the spread of the virus as much as possible, those known to be affected have been isolated.
Anyone who has been in close contact with a sick person, i.e. less than two metres away for more than 15 minutes, must also remain in quarantine for two weeks. Authorities also recommend a certain amount of "social distancing" – i.e, when standing in a queue, for example, to keep a certain distance from those around you.
Recommendations for the world of work have also been issued, such as not travelling at rush hour and working from home when possible.
Those worried about a possible infection are advised to phone the doctor's office first, rather than showing up in person. The cost of a test (CHF180) will be reimbursed by basic health insurance as of March 4, the health office announced.
+ Swiss foundation launches 'emergency call' for coronavirus research
What's the situation for Swiss citizens living abroad? Are repatriations being carried out?
All Swiss representations abroad remain accessible to Swiss citizens. The representations, and the helpline of the ministry, have answered hundreds of enquiries from concerned citizens.
Under the Swiss Abroad Act, Swiss nationals living abroad cannot claim the right to an organised departure from a crisis area.
However, after the government requested that Swiss travellers return to the country as soon as possible, the foreign ministry urged tourists to register with a special travel app and has begun chartering flights to repatriate stranded citizens.
The Swiss authorities have organized the biggest ever repatriation operation of Swiss nationals, which is now drawing to an end. Most Swiss stranded abroad have now managed to return to Switzerland, according to the foreign ministry. The ministry has organized more than 30 repatriation flights. Nearly 7,000 people, including some 4,000 Swiss nationals have been repatriated on flights organized by Switzerland.
The foreign ministry regularly updates information about the "unprecedented recall operation" here.
The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad cancelled the meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad in the Swiss capital Bern, which had been scheduled for March 14.
+ Switzerland begins historic repatriation effort
What do you need to consider when travelling to and staying in Switzerland?
The government advises against all non-urgent travel in Switzerland and abroad.
All ski resorts have been closed across Switzerland. Tourist trains have also been cancelled.
Swiss International Air Lines has reduced or cancelled many flights to and from areas with a particular risk of infections.
The airline announced that it is cutting back on much of its service and reducing working hours for flight personnel to help safeguard its finances during the pandemic. If the situation gets worse, the airline will have to ground all its aircraft and will then be dependent on government aid, Swiss CEO Thomas Klühr says. Check on the SWISS website for details.
Switzerland's national railway operator has reduced its long-distance timetable and most cross-border routes. Further trains services were being reduced within Switzerland from April 2.
What impact will the spread of the disease have on the Swiss economy?
Economics Minister Guy Parmelin has warned that averting a recession will be extremely difficult despite the measures taken. The government said it wanted to help the economy "quickly and unbureaucratically."
The Swiss stock market has been heavily hit by the panic over the virus.
The tourism and event industries also fear heavy losses. For March and April, Swiss hotels are expecting turnover to fall by up to 90%.
The federal government's economic forecasting Expert Group expects the Swiss economy to plunge into recession in 2020 as a result of coronavirus. It says the economy should gradually recover from the second half of the year onwards, provided the coronavirus situation stablises, but stresses that "forecasting uncertainty is currently extraordinarily high".
In the medium term, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs is concerned about capital markets and the interruption of supply chains for Swiss industry and international corporations based in Switzerland.
Where can I find further information on the implications of Covid-19?
swissinfo.ch is keeping this story updated daily with numbers of confirmed cases and deaths, as well as any new significant measures taken by the cantonal and federal authorities. Further sources, which we also use and which may be useful to readers, include:
The Federal Office for Public Health (FOPH): live updates of the national situation, as well as recommendations, public safety measures, and details of upcoming announcements.
The World Health Organization (WHO): information on the origins and nature of Covid-19, as well as the global situation and travel advice.
The Swiss foreign ministry: information in French, German and Italian about the situation regarding foreign travel and the steps to be followed by Swiss citizens going abroad.
Johns Hopkins University: a global map that tracks the number of cases and fatalities by country; figures may be slightly different from swissinfo.ch's map, above, due to time lags and/or different methods of defining "confirmed" cases.
Follow SWI swissinfo.ch here, on Facebook and on Twitter for timely updates on the situation in Switzerland.
Swiss stats Coronavirus: the latest numbers
Here is an overview of the most important Swiss-related coronavirus data and graphs, which are updated automatically.
By SRF DataTimeline in Switzerland
· February 25: Switzerland reports its first coronavirus case – a 70-year-old man tests positive in canton Ticino, in the south of the country bordering Italy. Ticino bans all public events, including the carnival parades.
· February 27: "Social distancing" is one of the precautions called for as part of an information campaign by the Federal Office of Public Health. The Engadin Ski Marathon – scheduled for March 8 – is cancelled. The Swiss sporting scene starts shutting down.
· February 28: The government raises the alert level to "special situation" – banning events with more than 1,000 people, including football and ice hockey championships, carnivals in Basel and Lucerne, the Geneva Motor Show and Baselworld watch fair.
· March 5: A 74-year-old woman dies in Lausanne. She is the first confirmed coronavirus death in Switzerland.
· March 13: Ticino is the first canton to close all schools as part of its "emergency measures". The federal government launches an emergency aid package worth CHF10 billion ($10.3 billion) and bans public gatherings of more than 100 people.
· March 16: The Swiss government declares an "extraordinary situation", instituting a ban on all private and public events and closing restaurants, bars, leisure facilities and shops apart from grocery stores and pharmacies.
· March 19: Canton Uri orders people 65 and older to stay inside their homes. The federal government tells the canton it can't do that.
· March 20: The government announces a nationwide ban on gatherings of more than five people in public spaces. It urges the public to stay home except to buy food or go to the doctor. Some city parks are shut and police begin enforcing the ban on groups of 5+.
· March 21: The foreign ministry announces special charter flights for hundreds of Swiss citizens stranded in South America and Africa.
· March 22: Canton Ticino orders manufacturing plants to shut down, though cantons have been warned not to unilaterally exceed the recommendations of the federal authorities.
· March 25: The Swiss government extends entry restrictions to all Schengen states. Previously it had imposed restrictions on entry by land and by air from Italy, France, Germany, Austria and Spain, and from all non-Schengen states.
· March 27: Swiss cantons will be allowed to shut down industrial activities if they show a risk of spreading coronavirus. The government ruling, which comes with strict conditions, follows a decision by canton Ticino to ban certain manufacturing production.
· March 31: A scientific taskforce is set up to advise the government and to coordinate national research by universities into coronavirus.
· April 16 : The Swiss government announces a three-stage easing of Covid-19 restrictions from April 27.
swissinfo.ch.
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