Epidemiological situation in Switzerland remains tense

The situation in hospitals remains very tense, as the FOPH writes in a press release. In certain hospitals, non-urgent operations have to be postponed and healthcare staff are under considerable strain.

At an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday, December 8, the Federal Council intends to carry out an interim assessment and decide on stricter measures on December 11 if the cantons have not taken the necessary measures.

Fewer people in the stores

The festive and vacation season in particular poses additional risks with increased shopping and private gatherings. In order to protect people even better, the number of people in a store at any one time will be reduced. The capacity restriction will be tightened from 9 December until further notice, in larger stores from the current 4 to 10 square meters per customer.

New rules for restaurants

In restaurants throughout Switzerland, it will be mandatory to collect the contact details of guests at each table, as various cantons have already introduced. On New Year's Eve, the curfew is exceptionally extended from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. in order to reduce the risk of disorderly meetings in private settings.

Singing is prohibited outside the family circle and compulsory schools, both outdoors and indoors. The ban applies not only to choirs, but also to communal singing in church services and at certain New Year's Eve celebrations that involve singing.

The Federal Council strongly recommends limiting meetings in private homes and restaurants to two households and thus keeping the number of contacts as low as possible. The limit of 10 people is maintained.

In order to further reduce the number of contacts and flows of people, the home office recommendation should also be consistently implemented. To this end, the Federal Council is once again calling on employers to facilitate working from home wherever possible. It should be made as easy as possible for employees to reduce their contacts to a minimum before the festive period.

Ski resorts open if case numbers fall

Ski resorts should be able to be open to domestic tourism. From 22 December, ski resorts will require a permit from the canton to operate. The prerequisite for this is that the epidemiological situation allows this and that sufficient capacities are ensured in the hospitals, for contact tracing and for testing. The operators of ski resorts must also submit strict protection concepts that implement the standardized national requirements.

There are no capacity limits for ski resorts. However, from December 9, only two thirds of the seats in all enclosed means of transport, such as trains, cabins and gondolas, may be occupied. This applies to seats and standing room.

Masks are compulsory on all lifts, including ski lifts and chairlifts. Masks must be worn when queuing and social distancing must be observed. Guests in restaurants in ski resorts may only be admitted indoors if a table is free for them. In indoor areas and on terraces, the existing rules continue to apply: consumption only when seated and a maximum of four people per table, with the exception of parents with children.

The cantons are obliged to monitor the rules. If significant problems are identified, the ski resort operators must be admonished. If the problems persist, the license must be withdrawn. The cantons must also report to the federal government on the number of inspections, the number of warnings issued and the number of permits withdrawn, as well as on the capacity utilization of hospitals.

Source: BAG