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Switzerland to change travel rules for those vaccinated abroad from Monday

People vaccinated abroad with AstraZeneca, along with other EMA-approved vaccines, will be able to get Switzerland's Covid certificate from Monday.

Switzerland to change travel rules for those vaccinated abroad from Monday
Photo by Jacob King / POOL / AFP

Please note that from September 30th, the Swiss government is also accepting both Chinese vaccines for the Covid certificate. Click here for more information. 

From Monday, September 20th, foreign visitors vaccinated abroad with a jab approved by the European Medicines Agency will be able to obtain a Swiss Covid certificate enabling them to enter restaurants and venues.

The change applies to anyone wanting to get Switzerland’s Covid certificate, whether that be people who live in Switzerland but were vaccinated abroad, or business or tourism travellers. 

It will be a welcome change, particularly for people from the UK, India or Israel, many of whom have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca. 

Prior to September 20th, only vaccines approved for use in Switzerland were accepted for the Covid certificate – which meant that people who are fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca were unable to get the document. 

As at September 20th, four vaccines are approved by the EMA: AstraZeneca, PfizerBiontech, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson. 

The list of vaccines accepted in order to enter Switzerland is longer and includes, among others, Chinese vaccine Sinopharm. 

READ MORE: Which vaccines are accepted for entry to Switzerland? 

Switzerland’s Covid certificate – which shows that someone is either fully vaccinated, has recovered from the virus recently or has tested negative – allows entry to bars, restaurants, nightlife venues, gyms and some private events. 

The certificate was put in place on the 13th of September, bringing the rules in Switzerland broadly in line with its neighbours. 

Despite its wealth and strong health system, Switzerland is lagging other European countries when it comes to vaccination rates. 

An estimated 53 percent of Swiss are fully vaccinated, compared with 61 percent of the EU. 

READ MORE: Switzerland announces tougher Covid border rules for travellers

Bern said the measures were a bid to prevent a spike in cases once people start returning from their autumn vacation, following a surge in Delta variant infections after the summer holidays.

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TRAVEL NEWS

How Geneva plans to expand public transport services

Geneva's bus and tram network covers not only the Swiss city and canton, but some parts of the neighbouring French communities as well.

How Geneva plans to expand public transport services

The Geneva parliament approved on Friday the action plan launched by the local government, which calls for a 29-percent increase in public transport services (TPG) throughout the Swiss canton — and beyond.

Specifically, it provides for more trams, including cross-border ones, as well as further electrification of buses.

The capacity of the Léman Express train will also be strengthened.

Expansion of this particular link is important to the region, as it connects the Geneva area with neighbouring France.

The route comprises 45 stations and 230 kilometres of track — extending beyond the Geneva canton borders into Vaud as well as France. 

This news comes just days after Geneva officials announced they will use the canton’s 1.4-million-franc budget surplus to offer free transport for people up to 24 years of age, in addition to lowering taxes.

READ ALSO: Geneva to cut taxes and make public transport free for young people 

All-party agreement

The public network expansion project met with some opposition during the debate period.

While some MPs, like those from the centre-right Liberal-Radical (PLR) party believed that this ambitious plan was necessary to accommodate growing population growth, the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) was against the project because it would impact the automobile industry.

In the end, however, resolution approving this action plan was unanimously accepted.

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