Hanging around in the Swiss Alps could be back on the cards this winter.
The European ski season has been saved as Switzerland rows back on its strict quarantine stance over omicron.
Less than a week after they were introduced, stricter requirements for arrivals from high-risk countries (including Hong Kong and the United Kingdom) to complete a ten-day quarantine on arrival have been scrapped.
All countries have been removed from the quarantine list and quarantine has been replaced with a raft of containment measures, including an extension of the Swiss Covid passport scheme and additional testing requirements for travellers.
Arrivals must now take a PCR test on departure and again between day four and day seven. Non-vaccinated travellers from outside the Schengen area will be refused entry. The new travel regulations come into force today (December 4) and apply to travellers over the age of 16. If travelling from a 'country of concern', the regulations will apply to travellers aged from six years and up.
In addition, according to a statement issued by the Swiss government, “From Monday December 6, Covid certificates will be required and face masks will have to be worn in a wider range of situations, people will be urged to work from home, and the validity of rapid antigen tests will be reduced. Furthermore, at events and venues subject to certificate requirements, it will be permitted to restrict access to people who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from Covid: guests and customers would then not have to wear masks.”
Covid certificates are advised for private gatherings of more than 11 people and customers in bars and restaurants must remain seated when eating or drinking. Contact tracing details must be provided.
The new regulations will remain in place until January 24, 2022.
More details here.
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