Travel Corona: the federal government only classifies four countries as risk areas

The federal government is adapting the rules: Only these four states are now considered risk areas

Belgium, Czech Republic, Andorra and Armenia: The Federal Council now only classifies these four states and three areas of France as regions with a higher risk of coronavirus infection. The government adjusted the relevant regulation on Wednesday.

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The new regulations apply from Thursday. Only those who enter Switzerland from these four countries should be quarantined for ten days. In France, the regions apply Hauts-de-France Y Ile de France / Paris and the overseas territory of French Polynesia as risk zones.

By Wednesday morning, nearly 12,100 returnees from at-risk countries were under quarantine in Switzerland. So far, more than sixty countries and numerous areas in all of Switzerland’s neighboring countries have been included in the corona risk list.

In view of the high number of cases in Switzerland, the Federal Council has now decided to radically change course. Until now, the rule has been: A country with more than 60 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days ended up on the list. There were exceptions for border areas.

The Federal Council has now adapted the rule, according to which the risk list now only includes states or areas with a value of 14 days per 100,000 inhabitants which is more than 60 than in Switzerland. According to figures from the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), the current value in Switzerland is many times higher than in other countries, that is, around 763.

Health Minister Alain Berset said a week ago that there was no point in including regions on the risk list if Switzerland had significantly more cases of infection in comparison.

The exemption provisions for business travelers and those traveling for medical reasons will also be adjusted. The Federal Council repeals the rule that such trips can last a maximum of five days. (cma / sda)