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HEALTH

What to expect from the Swiss government’s lockdown meeting on Wednesday

The Swiss government is set to meet with cantonal authorities on Wednesday to discuss another nationwide lockdown. According to a leaked report, this is what the lockdown could look like.

What to expect from the Swiss government's lockdown meeting on Wednesday
Swiss Health Minister Alain Berset. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Despite only days ago ruling out another complete lockdown, spiralling case numbers all across Switzerland has seen the government put the issue back on the table. 

A report leaked to Swiss tabloid Blick – and covered extensively elsewhere in the Swiss media – shows that a range of tougher measures are being considered at the federal level. 

From expanding mask requirements to severe restrictions on groups and events, the lockdown rules are reminiscent of those adopted during the first wave of the virus in the spring. 

According to Swiss media, the measures are to be communicated to the cantons at a meeting on Wednesday, October 28th. 

There is no indication yet as to when the measures would be implemented – or for how long they would be in place. 

Here’s what you need to know about the proposed federal rules to be discussed at Wednesday's meeting

Mask requirement to be expanded

Just over a week after Switzerland expanded mask rules to all publicly accessible indoor areas, the federal government is considering expanding the rules. 

Masks should be worn in all residential areas (Siedlungsgebieten). While this would not include the forest, it would cover all residential areas, i.e. parts of towns and cities. 

Masks would also be required in all publicly accessible indoor spaces, such as markets, waiting areas for buses and trains, etc. 

People at restaurants would still be allowed to remove their masks when sitting down to eat. 

Masks would also be required at the workplace – including all offices – unless one cannot be worn for safety reasons. 

Curfew for restaurants 

Restaurants and bars would be forced to close from 10pm to 6am. 

Guests must sit and can only eat or drink at the table. A maximum of four people can sit at each table, excluding children. 

Events

There would be a limit of 50 people for all public events.

Private events

Groups of more than 15 people would not be allowed to meet under the proposed rules. 

According to Blick, this includes all private events such as birthdays and weddings. 

No disco

Clubs and discos would be forced to close, while dancing would be prohibited. 

School's out

Universities and secondary schools would again be forced to return to distance learning. 

Sports

Contact sports would be prohibited, while sports without physical contact would not be allowed to have more than 15 participants, with the exception of professional sports. 

According to Blick, masks would need to be worn during indoor sports and during outdoor sports unless distance can be maintained. 

The newspaper writes “A mask must be worn indoors and the distance must be maintained. A mask must be worn outdoors if the distance cannot be maintained. The professional league operation remains permissible.”

Rehearsals and concerts

Rehearsals and concerts with more than 15 people would be prohibited under the new rules. 

For those with fewer than 15 people, masks must be worn. Concerts with singing – such as choirs – are completely prohibited. 

 

Member comments

  1. Meanwhile, no action has been taken to hold accountable those responsible for the virus. Large banks and multinationals are Stumm. A Reparations tax should be imposed to pay for the utter devastation that has been caused either by accident (internal travel ban but not foreign travel during the New Year celebrations) or deblieratly done to destroy the Western Economies.

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HEALTH

The essential Swiss websites you need to use for health matters

If you just moved to Switzerland (or even if you have lived here for a while), your learning curve about health-related matters in the country may be steep. These sites will help you find the information you need.

The essential Swiss websites you need to use for health matters

Staying healthy is probably one of your top priorities, but doing so in a foreign country is not easy.

That is why having some reliable resources that you can check out and follow will be helpful.

First: The Local

No, we are not doctors, but we have published a number of factual articles over the years about many aspects of healthcare in Switzerland that our readers find helpful.

You can find a compilation of these health-related stories here

Federal Office of Public Health 

Obviously, when it comes to matters of health, the Health Ministry has lots of information that will be relevant to you at one time or another.

Aside from matters of health policy (which is important for all residents of Switzerland), the site also has a regularly updated Infectious Diseases Dashboard to let you know what communicable illnesses are currently circulating in Switzerland — and how to avoid them.

It also provides age-specific health information and recommendations — for instance, for children and teenagers, as well as for the elderly.

Hospital websites

Individual hospitals in your area are good sources of information as well, and many of them are in English.

You can find there general health information, care and treatment options, online emergency room signup, new medical technologies being used, and other patient resources:

Geneva University Hospitals (HUG)

Vaud University Hospital (CHUV)

Zurich University Hospital

Basel University Hospital 

If you live in an area without a university medical centre, your local hospital is also a valuable source of health-related information.

Appointment booking platform

This website is especially useful for people who don’t yet have a doctor in Switzerland but need to set an appointment with one. 

It gives you an option of choosing a specialty and location, and then displays doctor’s names and addresses, background information about them, and which time slots they have available.

You can easily set up an appointment this way.

Your health insurer’s website

This may not be an intuitive choice for impartial information about healthcare but you may be surprised.

For instance, Sanitas insurance site has information about emergency care decisions, and how to void unnecessary medical treatments.

CSS has health information geared specifically to men and women.

Helsana talks about ways to combat stress and sleep problems.

These are just a few examples on what valuable tips you can find on your insurer’s website.

Websites devoted to specific medical conditions

If you seek information about a specific illness — such as treatment options in Switzerland — there are plenty of online resources for that as well.

For instance:

Heart and cardiovascular 

Diabetes 

Osteoporosis 

Mental illness 

General pain 

Other diseases 

Last but not least, while not related to health, these websites will also provide useful information for international residents:

The Swiss websites that can help you save money
 
The most useful website resources to help you get Swiss citizenship 
 
 

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