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“Unfortunately, the corona virus will not let us go on vacation,” Federal President Simonetta Sommaruga told the media on Friday in Bern.
In the meantime, however, all cantons are convinced that additional measures are needed. Therefore, the Federal Council has decided to take stricter measures that will apply until January 22. “Now all of Switzerland is needed.”
Restaurants too
Restaurants are no longer allowed to serve guests. There are no exceptions for holidays. Only company canteens, school canteens in compulsory schools and hotel restaurants can remain open. Take away offers and delivery services are still allowed.
“Lex Gipfeli”
Bakeries can offer the entire offering on Sundays, as long as they generate two-thirds of their sales with bakery and pastry products. Affiliate cafes and bakery tearooms remain closed.
Fitness centers too
Sports businesses have to close. Sports can still be practiced outdoors in groups of up to five people. Professional games can still take place without spectators. Sports and cultural activities for children and young people before the age of 16 are still allowed, with the exception of competitions.
Zoos, cinemas and museums too
Museums, cinemas, libraries, casinos, botanical and zoological gardens, as well as other cultural and leisure facilities, must close their doors. Cultural activities are still possible in small groups. Audience events are still prohibited. Alternative forms of events are allowed, for example events streamed online.
Fewer people in stores
The number of people who can be in the stores at the same time is even more restricted. The maximum number of people depends on the commercial space with free access. Furthermore, strict protection concepts continue to be applied in all stores. Opening hours restrictions remain in effect: stores must be closed between 7:00 PM and 6:00 AM and on Sundays and holidays.
Exceptions for model cantons
Cantons with favorable epidemiological developments may decide to make things easier, such as opening restaurants and sports facilities. A number of reproductions below 1 and an incidence of 7 days below the Swiss average are particularly important.
Recommendation: stay home!
The population is encouraged to stay home. People should keep their social contacts to a minimum and avoid unnecessary trips and excursions.
Ski areas are still a cantonal affair
The cantons are still responsible for the ski lifts and mountain railways. However, strict requirements apply to the operation: the epidemiological situation must allow the operation and sufficient capacity in hospitals for contact tracing and testing must be ensured. There must also be strict protection concepts and ensure their implementation. If these requirements are not met, a canton cannot issue a permit.
The measures are limited to January 22, 2021. If the situation of the crown in Switzerland worsens, the Federal Council wants to be able to take more measures quickly. On December 30, establish a provisional balance.
To make it easier for the population to be tested, the Federal Council is expanding the use of rapid tests. Until now, only rapid antigen tests using nasopharyngeal swabs have been recognized. In the future, all kinds of rapid tests that meet the criteria of the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) will be able to be performed in pharmacies, hospitals, doctors’ offices and testing centers. Rapid tests can now also be performed on people without recognizable symptoms and outside the valid test criteria of the BAG. For example, they can be integrated as additional protection in protection concepts in nursing homes, hotels or at work. A negative rapid test result is only valid on the day of the test. Individuals or institutions conducting a rapid test outside of the test criteria must pay for the rapid test themselves.
Due to Corona’s measures, many companies have returned to work on reduced time. The Federal Council assumes that the number of employees who depend on short-term compensation will continue to increase. Therefore, it extends the so-called summary procedure of the short-time allowance until March 31, 2021. This allows the unemployment insurance funds to decide more quickly on companies’ applications for the short-time allowance. The changes corresponding to the regulation of unemployment insurance Covid 19 will come into force on January 1, 2021.
