Adapted quarantine rules have been announced in relation to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic as follows:
Previously, a person had to go into quarantine for 10 days after the last contact with an infected person. Now that quarantine can be ended prematurely subject to the approval of the competent cantonal authority if the person concerned carries out a rapid antigen test or a PCR test from the 7th day onwards and the result is negative. The cost of the test is to be borne by the person themselves. Until the actual expiry of the quarantine (10th day) and despite a negative test result, the person must always wear a face mask and the distance to other persons must be maintained at all times outside their own accommodation.
The new test and release policy also applies to arrivals from states or areas with an increased risk of infection. For arrivals from 8 February 2021 onwards, travellers from risk areas must present a negative PCR test that is no older than 72 hours. They will then enter a 10-day quarantine as before. However, they can leave this quarantine from the 7th day onwards if the test result is negative. A Covid-19 vaccination does not lift the quarantine obligation.
A negative PCR test result must also be presented for air travel from countries that do not belong to the risk areas. The test result is checked before boarding the aircraft at the point of departure and travel is refused if there is no test or a positive result.
The list that is valid at the time of entry into Switzerland is decisive for the quarantine obligation. If you have stayed in one of the listed states and territories within the last 10 days prior to entry, the legal quarantine obligation applies and the cantonal authorities must be notified accordingly.
People entering the country from countries or regions without an increased risk of infection will now have to record their contact data if they arrive by plane, ship, bus or train as of 8 February 2021. The contact data will now be collected by means of an electronic entry form. Previously, only the contact data of persons from risk states or areas have been recorded when they enter Switzerland.
Stephanie Mueller
stephanie.mueller@bdo.ch