Pandemic: Federal Council launches consultation on fifth opening step

Due to the positive development of the case numbers and the progress in vaccination, the Federal Council is planning another larger opening step before the summer vacations. A final decision will be made on June 23, when the effects of the fourth opening step on May 31 will also be visible. The mask requirement in outdoor areas of publicly accessible facilities, leisure facilities, train stations and bus stops is to be lifted, as well as on the outside decks of ships and on chairlifts.

As envisaged in the three-phase model, the Covid certificate is now also to be used. It is mandatory for large events and in discos. Events with fewer than 1,000 people, sports, cultural and leisure establishments, and restaurants can restrict access to people with a Covid certificate in order to benefit from facilitations in protective measures. The certificate may not be used in areas of everyday life, such as public transport, retail outlets or private events.

Restaurants: Six people per table instead of four

Inside restaurants, six people will now be allowed to sit at each table instead of four. As before, seating is compulsory. Outside, the restriction on the size of groups of guests and the seating requirement are to be abolished. Anyone moving around inside a restaurant will have to wear a mask. The contact details of all guests must still be collected.

At the end of May, the Federal Council has already decided that large events with Covid certificate will be possible again from July. Now it is proposing various adjustments. For example, the mask requirement is to be simplified: only those moving around indoors will have to wear a mask. In addition, the maximum number of people is to be standardized: a maximum of 3000 people can take part indoors, 5000 outdoors, regardless of whether seating is compulsory. Two-thirds of the capacity may always be used.

Reopen discos and dance halls

Discotheques and dance clubs are allowed to reopen if access is restricted to people with a valid Covid certificate. A maximum of 250 people may be present at the same time. Wearing a mask can be waived, contact details of the guests are to be collected.

It will now also be possible to sell validated self-tests in drugstores and retail outlets. However, the federally funded distribution of five self-tests per person per month will continue to be available only in pharmacies and will be limited to people who have not been vaccinated or recovered.

According to several studies, vaccination with the vaccines approved in Switzerland should be effective for longer than six months. On June 23, the Federal Council will decide on a longer duration of vaccine efficacy based on the assessment of the Commission for Vaccination Questions.

Source: Federal Council