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HEALTH

Which countries have quarantines for Swiss arrivals?

Despite borders opening across Europe and the world, there are still some countries restricting arrivals from Switzerland.

Which countries have quarantines for Swiss arrivals?
Which countries have restricted arrivals from Switzerland. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

The following countries have some form of a quarantine in place for arrivals from Switzerland: Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Ireland. 

Estonia has said it will put in place a quarantine on Swiss arrivals if rates continue to rise. 

In some of these countries tourists are banned while others will be required to quarantine, while in others tourists and all other arrivals will need to quarantine. 

Belgium, which recently had a quarantine recommendation for arrivals from the southern Swiss canton of Ticino, has removed the restriction and now allows entry from all Swiss cantons without a quarantine. 

READ: Who is allowed to travel to Switzerland from outside the EU?

Why must Swiss arrivals quarantine? The reason for the quarantines is the increasing infection rate in Switzerland, although the respective rates differ in each of the countries. 

Finland says no

In Finland, while Swiss tourist arrivals were allowed after a long ban, a fresh ban snapped into place on Monday, July 27th. 

There are some exceptions to the ban, with Finnish citizens, family members, business travellers and owners of holiday homes still allowed to enter, subject to a 14-day quarantine. 

Finland has a low threshold of eight new infections per 100,000 people. 

Switzerland currently has a nationwide rate of 17 infections per 100,000 people, however this is higher in cantons such as Geneva (58) and Graubünden (31). 

Latvia and Lithuania

The Baltic states of Latvia and Lithuania set a limit for quarantine measures at 16 infections per 100,000 people, just below Switzerland’s current amount of 17. 

READ: Will Switzerland introduce coronavirus testing at airports to cut quarantine? 

 

Like Finland, entry from Switzerland had been possible without a quarantine in previous weeks, rising infection rates in the Alpine nation has a led to the quarantine. 

This means that currently tourists are permitted to enter from Switzerland however they must complete a 14-day quarantine. 

If Switzerland’s infection rate continues to rise however, a complete ban is likely to be reinstated. Currently, arrivals from countries with an infection rate of 25 per 100,000 will be restricted. 

Estonia has a cut off of 17.5, just half a percentage point above Switzerland’s current rate. 

Ireland

Despite relaxing entry requirements for 15 other European countries in late July, Ireland kept restrictions in place for Swiss arrivals. 

Anyone arriving from Switzerland in Ireland must undergo a 14-day quarantine. 

Ireland has advised any potential arrivals to call their embassy before their planned departure. 

Editor's note: Please keep in mind that this article, as with all of our guides, are to provide assistance only. They are not intended to take the place of official legal advice. 

 

 

 

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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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