The Swiss government is overturning the quarantine rules and is putting an end to all corona protection measures. A health economist even warns against sticking to the rules for too long.
Bern – The Swiss are taking Denmark as a role model: Switzerland wants to get rid of almost all corona rules in two weeks – even though the number of infections there is significantly higher than in Germany. The first easing will take effect on Thursday (February 3rd).
For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, there will no longer be a quarantine obligation in Switzerland for people who have been in contact with infected people. The Swiss government announced on Wednesday (February 2) that the quarantine had become less important due to the very high number of infections. Anyone who is infected themselves must continue to isolate themselves. The government also decided to abolish the obligation to work from home. On February 16, the Swiss government wants to get really serious and decide on the corona exit.
Switzerland wants to lift all corona rules – fear of “civil disobedience”
In the run-up to the groundbreaking Federal Council meeting, the Swiss infectiologist Andreas Widmer explained 20min.ch: “The rapid lifting of all measures leads almost to a natural immunization. This is how we finally come out of this pandemic.” A view that German virologists also hold.
Health economist Heinz Locher said that the current measures are no longer in proportion to the development of the pandemic. “If the Federal Council only gradually dismantles the measures, the population will react with civil disobedience,” warned Locher.
Switzerland is planning the corona exit: The government is proposing these two variants
On February 16, after consultations with the cantons, the final decision on the end of all corona protection measures should be made. The government has already drawn up two proposals, which are then to be voted on.
This is how Switzerland is planning its corona exit: Variant one provides for an end to almost all measures from February 17th, when the number of infections and hospital occupancy with Covid patients decrease. Infected people would then have to isolate themselves further.
Switzerland wants to say goodbye to all corona rules – despite the current horror incidence
Variant two provides for a gradual withdrawal of the measures. The 2G rule in restaurants would fall first, and the mask requirement in public transport would come last. On February 16, a decision will also be made as to whether the obligation to test for unvaccinated or recovered people and the collection of contact details will be lifted upon entry.
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health reported a good 41,000 new corona cases within 24 hours on Wednesday. Calculated per 100,000 inhabitants, this is almost twice as much as in Germany. The 14-day incidence, which indicates how many new infections there were per 100,000 inhabitants within 14 days, was 5354. In Germany, the authorities give a seven-day incidence. It was 1227.5 on Wednesday. The handling of the highly contagious omicron variant is fundamentally different in Europe. (yeah/dpa)
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