Federal Council calls on population to get vaccinated
From October 1, 2021, testing of people without symptoms will no longer be free of charge. The measures in force to date These will in future serve to protect hospital structures and no longer the unvaccinated population.
Currently, almost half of the Swiss population is fully vaccinated. However, since July 11, 2021, the curve of first-time vaccinations has hardly increased, while the cantons have sufficient vaccination capacities. In a statement, the Federal Council assumes that all persons willing to be vaccinated have been vaccinated. In accordance with its three-phase model (protection, stabilization, normalization), it was therefore decided to initiate the normalization phase, which is envisaged when all willing vaccinees have been vaccinated.
Due to the uncertain epidemiological situation (negative dynamics, vacation returns, delta variant) and because an overload of hospital structures cannot be ruled out, the Federal Council has decided to maintain the limited and well-accepted set of measures (e.g. masks indoors and in public transport, certificates for large events and clubs). It will reassess the situation at its meeting on September 1, 2021 and, if necessary, adjust the measures when the effects of the vacation return are more apparent.
In this new phase, the Federal Council is placing greater emphasis on personal responsibility. Since everyone in Switzerland will be confronted with Covid-19 sooner or later, it is assumed that an increase in infections, hospitalizations and deaths cannot be avoided. For the population, therefore, vaccination remains the most effective means of protecting against covid-19 infection and serious complications, he said. The Federal Council is calling on people who have not yet been vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The cantons must therefore ensure that the population can continue to be vaccinated at a low threshold. The federal government will launch a new information campaign on August 16, 2021.
The Federal Council, on the other hand, proposes that from October 1, 2021, neither tests for persons without symptoms (test for personal reasons), nor the five self-tests per month for non-vaccinated and recovered persons will be financed, with the exception of tests for children up to 12 years and persons who cannot be vaccinated: Non-vaccinated and non-recovered individuals who wish to participate in a certifiable event must pay for the test themselves or be vaccinated in the meantime beginning October 1, 2021.
Source: The Federal Council
