Switzerland's Federal Council decided on Wednesday to immediately lift almost all anti-coronavirus measures. Hospitality venues, movies and restaurants will all be open from Thursday 17 February without a Covid certificate or mask.
The so-called 3G, 2G and 2G+ rules – from the German words geimpft (vaccinated), genesen (recovered) and getestet (tested) – which have been in place since last autumn, are thus being abandoned. The compulsory wearing of masks in shops, restaurants and all public indoor areas, as well as in the workplace, is being repealed.
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The recommendation to work from home also drops immediately. Organisers no longer need to request permission for large events, and private or family gatherings are no longer restricted. There are no restrictions on the number of people allowed in shops or on ski lifts, either.
Europe-wide easing
This decision comes after multiple European countries have moved to ease Covid measures, most recently the Netherlands and Austria.
Only two measures remain in place until the end of March: wearing masks on public transports and in healthcare centres and for those who test positive for Covid-19 to isolate for a minimum of five days. These measures serve to protect vulnerable people, the Federal Council said in a press release.
The Council did add that depending on the epidemiological situation, both measures could be lifted before the end of March.
