Switzerland copies France and extends the obligation of the health pass in order to fight against the coronavirus epidemic which is severely affecting the country. From Monday, you will have to show your Covid certificate to enter a restaurant or a bar, but also to go see an exhibition, a film or an indoor sporting event, the Federal Council said in a press release issued at the end. of its meeting on Wednesday. In compensation, the Swiss can remove their mask and are no longer obliged to respect the distances.
The federal government justifies these measures – unpopular among some Swiss and among some professionals – by “the situation in hospitals which remains tense and the occupation of intensive care beds very high”, while the number of infections is increasing and that “the share of the unimmunized population also remains too high to prevent a new and important wave of contaminations”, underlines the press release.
“A notable advantage”
“It is clear that people who have a Covid certificate following vaccination or due to lasting immunity due to their recovery now enjoy a significant advantage” compared to others, underlined the president of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin at a press conference. The certificate can be obtained either by having proof of vaccination or immunization, or a PCR or antigen test, of less than 72 and 48 hours respectively.
“Vaccination remains the most effective and economical way to control the pandemic”, insisted Guy Parmelin. The vast majority of cantons had given their support to the extension project. They are the ones who will have to ensure compliance with the measures by introducing fines or closing establishments.
59.01% of the eligible population received a dose
According to figures from the Federal Ministry of Health, as of September 8, only 59.01% of the eligible population has received a dose of vaccine and 52.35% are fully vaccinated. This is much less than in the French neighbor, for example, where, out of 58 million eligible French people, only a fifth were not fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to figures from the beginning of September.
Vaccination had jumped in France after the announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron of the establishment of a health pass in many shops, restaurants and cinemas.
9,200 euros for non-compliance with a quarantine
In Switzerland, the extension concerns people over 16 and is limited until January 24, 2022. The measures can however be lifted before if the situation in hospitals improves. Alain Berset, Federal Councilor in charge of health, stressed that like elsewhere 90% of people “who are in intensive care and who are therefore fighting for their lives are not vaccinated”. According to him, the country of 8.6 million people still has 2.5 million people who could be vaccinated and who have not, to which is added a million children under 12 years old. that cannot be.
Nearly 10,500 people have died from Covid in Switzerland since the start of the pandemic in the country in February 2020. The Federal Council will also decide on September 17 on the new measures for the entry into Swiss territory of unimmunized and unvaccinated people , between repeated screening or the establishment of a quarantine after presentation of a negative test at the entry of the country. Controls on compliance with the rules must be stepped up and fines increased. Failure to comply with a quarantine could lead to a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (approximately 9,200 euros).