The public’s adherence to the country’s strict lockdown rules was credited not only with a flattening of the infection curve, but was a major motivating factor in the decision to gradually relax the lockdown from April 27th. 

Coronavirus: Parents in Switzerland to face steep fines for keeping kids at home after lockdown

Swiss police however have expressed concern that a decline in new infections – as well as warm, sunny weather across Switzerland – has already seen the population start to bend the rules – increasing the risk of a second wave of infections. 

Observing the public’s behaviour over the weekend in the canton of Zurich – Switzerland’s largest – the police said it was becoming clear that the public’s desire to comply with the lockdown rules was waning. 

“According to police officers (across the canton), the population showed a certain amount of fatigue and were not consistently following the rules against coronavirus”. 

According to Swiss media outlet Watson, the police reported more than 152 incidents of non-compliance with social distancing rules which required intervention. 

In cantonal hotspots such as Josefswiese, Saffa Insel or at the Wipkingen an der Limmat, the police frequently needed to use loudspeaker warnings to disperse the crowds. 

Das Plakat wirkt. //via @canokar pic.twitter.com/wNDt0aSufY

— Thomas Benkö [bö] (@ThBenkoe) April 19, 2020

Mario Fehr, a councillor in Zurich, said that the public should be commended for its adherence to the rules – but that they should not think that the battle had been won. 

“I thank the population for their behaviour and ask them to continue to consistently comply with the applicable measures,” he said.

“We all make an important contribution to easing the situation as quickly as possible.”