Source: European Union/Re-open EU
11.09.2020
Mandatory quarantine: list of countries and areas
The countries and areas with a high risk of infection are set down in the Covid-19 Ordinance on International Passenger Transport Measures. This list is regularly updated.
No longer on the list from 14 September 2020: Ecuador, Faroe Islands, Guatemala, South Africa.
The newly added countries and areas are written in bold.
Information regarding Spain: the Canary Islands will be included on the list from 14 September, meaning that the whole of Spain is now on the list.
List valid upon arriving in Switzerland from 14.9.2020
List of countries and areas with a high risk of infection
List of countries and areas with a high risk of infection
- Albania
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- The Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- British Virgin Islands
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Dominican Republic
- Gibraltar
- Guyana
- Honduras
- India
- Iraq
- Israel
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Maldives
- Malta
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Namibia
- North Macedonia
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Qatar
- Romania
- San Marino
- Sint Maarten
- Spain
- Suriname
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United States of America (including Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and Guam)
List of areas of neighbouring countries with a high risk of infection
Areas in France:
- Region Centre-Val de Loire
- Region Corse
- Region Hauts-de-France
- Region Île de France
- Region Normandie
- Region Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Region Occitanie
- Region Pays de la Loire
- Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
- Overseas area French Guyana
- Overseas area Guadeloupe
- Overseas area French Polynesia
- Overseas area La Réunion
- Overseas area Martinique
- Overseas area Mayotte
- Oversesas area Saint-Barthélemy
- Overseas area Saint-Martin
Areas in Austria:
- Federal state Vienna
At its meeting on 11 September, the Federal Council decided on the quarantine rules for persons entering Switzerland from neighbouring countries: only those regions of neighbouring countries where the infection rate is over the limit will be added to the list of countries and areas with an increased rate of infection, not the entire country. Border regions may be exempted from inclusion on the list. In so doing, the Federal Council is responding to the rapid rise in infection numbers, while still taking account of the close interaction between Switzerland and neighbouring regions. The revised ordinance will come into force on 14 September. At the same time, the list of risk areas will be updated.
Since 6 July, anyone entering Switzerland from a country or area with a high risk of infection has been required to go into quarantine for ten days. This Federal Council measure aims to prevent the import of the coronavirus into Switzerland and its spread within the country as far as possible. The Federal Council is now taking a region-based approach to neighbouring countries. Only specific regions of neighbouring countries will be included in the list of countries and areas with an increased risk of infection, in line with the practice in various other countries.
Exemptions for border regions
The border regions of neighbouring countries may be exempted from inclusion on the list. By allowing this exception, the Federal Council is taking account of the close economic, social and cultural exchanges that take place in the border regions. At the same time, the Federal Council is responding to the increasing numbers of infections in Switzerland and in various neighbouring countries, particularly in France.
Since June, the number of new infections in Switzerland has been rising steadily. While 98 cases were reported in the first week of June, at the end of August the figure was 1844, i.e. 18-times higher. In France, the number of cases is increasing even more rapidly and the number of new infections over two weeks in almost all regions of France is considerably higher than the limit value of 60 per 100,000 persons (14-day incidence). In certain Austrian states, a rise in cases in excess of the threshold has also been recorded, as it has in several Swiss cantons.
Taking a regional approach means that persons returning to Switzerland from risk areas will be required to go into quarantine, but not persons returning from regions on the Swiss border. In implementing this measure, the Federal Council is continuing to rely on members of the public to act responsibly. They should avoid travelling to risk areas if at all possible, or spend time in quarantine if they have travelled to these regions. Cross-border commuters are already exempted from the quarantine requirement.
The majority of cantons have expressed their support for this approach. However, some cantons are concerned that the new exemptions for the border regions will lead to increased costs and may lead to lower levels of compliance with the quarantine rules.
Exemptions from the quarantine requirement
Under the new rules, creative artists returning from a cultural event, athletes returning from competitions and persons who have been attending professional conferences will be exempted from the quarantine requirement. However, this exemption only applies if precautionary measures have been planned and taken at the foreign event concerned.
Also exempted from the quarantine requirement are persons who are required to travel without delay to a risk area for professional or medical reasons. The persons concerned must not remain abroad for more than five days, and precautionary measures must be planned and taken.
In addition, the Federal Council has revised the calculation rules for quarantine in the COVID-19 Ordinance on International Passenger Transport Measures. This will allow the cantons to take account of time spent in a country where there is not a high risk of infection before entering Switzerland, and to reduce the length of time spent in quarantine in Switzerland accordingly.
Coronavirus tests: Federal government reduces tariffs
At its meeting, the Federal Council also decided to reduce the tariff for a molecular-biological analysis for Sars-CoV-2 (PCR test) from CHF 95 to CHF 82 and that for a serological analysis (antibody test) from CHF 39 to CHF 25. It has also specified the details of various procedures.
Further information: Ordonnance sur les mesures destinées à lutter contre le coronavirus dans le domaine du transport international de voyageurs (PDF, 399 kB)
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07.09.2020
Mandatory quarantine: updated list of countries and areas
No longer on the list since 7 September 2020: Belgium, El Salvador, Eswatini (Swazsiland), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Oman.
The newly added countries and areas are written in bold.
List valid upon arriving in Switzerland from 7.9.2020
Important: a negative test result does not exempt you from the mandatory quarantine requirement or shorten the quarantine period. This is because a negative test result does not rule out an infection with the new coronavirus. You will find the biological explanation for this on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
The mandatory quarantine requirement does not apply to transit passengers who have spent less than 24 hours in a country or area with an increased risk of infection. Further exceptions are set down in Article 4 of the Covid-19 Ordinance on International Passenger Transport Measures.
Anyone who fails to comply with the quarantine requirement or the duty to report to the authorities is committing an offence under the Epidemics Act (in German), which can be punished by a fine of up to CHF 10,000.
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18.08.2020
Mandatory quarantine: updated list of countries and areas
The countries and areas with a high risk of infection are set down in the Covid-19 Ordinance on International Passenger Transport Measures. This list is regularly updated.
Removed from the list on 20 August 2020: Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Singapore
The newly added countries and areas are written in bold.
List valid upon arriving in Switzerland from 20 August 2020
List valid upon arriving in Switzerland between 8 August 2020 and 19 August 2020
List valid upon arriving in Switzerland between 23 July 2020 and 7 August 2020
List valid upon arriving in Switzerland between 6 July 2020 and 22 July 2020
Source: https://www.bag.admin.ch/.........
https://reopen.europa.eu/en/map/CHE
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14.08.2020
Travelling to Switzerland
Travelling from EU/EAA countries, including the United Kingdom, is in principle allowed.
All travellers entering Switzerland from countries or regions that are defined as Covid risk areas will have to quarantine for 10 days. The Federal Office of Public Health keeps a list of countries concerned, which is updated regularly.
As of 8.8.20, Luxembourg, Romania and Spain (with the exception of the Balearic and Canary Islands) are defined as Covid risk areas.
Travelling from Switzerland or returning to Switzerland
From the beginning of the pandemic, the Swiss Government has been advising against non-urgent travel abroad. This advice has gradually been lifted for a selection of countries.
Currently, the following countries are exempt from the general advice against non-urgent travel abroad: countries in the Schengen area, United Kingdom, Andorra, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Ireland, Japan, Morocco, Monaco, New Zealand, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Urugay, Vatican/Holy See.
If you re-enter Switzerland having at any point in the past 14 days spent time in a state or area defined as a Covid risk area, you must immediately go to your home or to other suitable accommodation, where you must stay for 10 days from the day of your arrival. Also, you have to report your arrival to the responsible cantonal authority within two days, and follow its instructions. The list of countries and territories with increased covid-infection risks is defined and regularly updated in a Federal Act.
Following the EU council recommendations, entry restrictions are lifted for a selection of third countries. It currently concerns: Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunesia, and Urugay, and the EU states outside the Schengen area (Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia, Romania, and Cyprus). China is also expected to be removed from the list in line with the EU recommendations, provided it guarantees reciprocal rights of entry to people travelling from Switzerland.
An updated list of States and areas with an increased risk of infection is available at www.bag.admin.ch
Rules and Exceptions
Entry restrictions have been lifted for residents of EU/EEA countries (including UK), as well as for their family members (irrespective of their nationality).
Travellers that are required to go into quarantine willl be notified during the flight, on board of coaches and at border crossings. They will have to register with the cantonal authorities within two days after arrival, and follow their instructions. Airline and travel companies will be instructed not to transport sick passengers.
For updated information, also see the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) FAQs
Links to national sources
www.bag.admin.ch
Source: Driving abroad
https://reopen.europa.eu/en/map/CHE
Source: Federal Office of Transport FOT
30.06.2020
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Switzerland |
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Travel ban to Switzerland from Italy, Germany, France and Austria
End date: not available
Further information: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pa...