At the end of January, the Federal Council took a series of new decisions to contain and manage the Corona pandemic. Among other things, the Federal Council wants to expand the testing strategy and is adapting the quarantine regulation. The following decisions were taken:

• The Confederation will now assume the costs for tests on people without symptoms in order to better protect people who are particularly at risk and to combat local outbreaks at an early stage.
• The Confederation also assumes the costs for vaccinations by chemists under the same conditions as for vaccinations in vaccination centres.
• The ten-day quarantine can be shortened if people concerned have themselves tested after seven days and the result is negative. The costs for the test must be paid by the person concerned.
• The new test and release strategy also applies to people entering the country from countries or areas with an increased risk of infection. They must present a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours old when entering the country. A quarantine period of ten days still applies, but this can be shortened as described above.
• People entering the country from countries or areas without an increased risk of infection will also have to provide their contact details if they arrive by plane, ship, bus or train. All contact data will now be collected by means of an electronic entry form.
• Anyone who disregards the obligation to wear a mask, takes part in a prohibited event or organises such an event – this also applies to private events – must expect an administrative fine. The fine will be between CHF 50 and 200, depending on the offence.

BASED ON AVS/ANITA MOSER