Faced with the multiplication of cases of Covid-19 and an epidemiological situation qualified as “very critical” and the “unfavorable” evolution, the Swiss government proposed, this Friday, a whole series of restrictions for the unvaccinated.
“We are in an extremely critical phase of the pandemic. The cases are increasing but so are hospitalizations ”, declared the Minister of Health, Alain Berset, at a press conference.
Several scenarios considered
“A month ago the situation was totally different, but unfortunately there is a situation of uncertainty such that we have to adapt. I did not think that we were going, in mid-December, to find ourselves under such pressure, ”he said, to justify the measures envisaged. As foreseen by the operation of the Confederation, these measures are subject to consultation until December 14 with the cantons and interested circles in order to know their positions. The Federal Council (government) has set up two options. The first foresees, for interior spaces, the introduction of the so-called “2G” rule (in German “geimpft oder genesen”, or access only to vaccinated or cured people) with the obligation to wear the mask and to consume seated.
Access to cultural establishments and to sports and leisure facilities as well as to events would be reserved for vaccinated or cured persons. A negative test would also be necessary (2G + rule) when it is not possible to wear the mask or to consume while sitting, such as in nightclubs, bars and for certain leisure activities. The second variant provides for closing the places where it is not possible to wear the mask, in particular the interior spaces of restaurants, sports halls, discos and bars.
The epidemic peak at the end of January
In both cases, the basic measures are reinforced with compulsory homework, the limitation of private meetings for example, and the reintroduction of distance education in universities. Like other countries in the region, Switzerland, with a population of some 8.6 million, has faced a rise in infections in recent weeks. The country has recorded 11,340 deaths from Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. Only 66.30% of the population is fully vaccinated, a relatively low rate compared to other countries in Western Europe.
Our dossier on Switzerland
Faced with the new wave of infections, Switzerland has so far recently extended the wearing of masks, as well as the obligation of the health pass. The number of infections with the Delta variant, which currently predominates, is very high and the burden on intensive care units has increased sharply. According to estimates by government experts, a first critical level in intensive care could be reached in mid-December. The authorities also believe that cases of the new highly contagious variant Omicron should multiply in Switzerland in the coming weeks and that this strain of the virus could become, depending on its degree of contagiousness, predominant from mid or late January.