Switzerland is currently wrapped up in red and white tape like a present. But there is of course nothing to celebrate. Head to the border and apart from at official checkpoints some form of barrier – whether it's tape, concrete blocks, piles of earth or logs – will stop most people getting out and most people getting in.
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Born in London, Thomas was a journalist at The Independent before moving to Bern in 2005. He speaks all three official Swiss languages and enjoys travelling the country and practising them, above all in pubs, restaurants and gelaterias.
Thomas Kern was born in Switzerland in 1965. Trained as a photographer in Zürich, he started working as a photojournalist in 1989. He was a founder of the Swiss photographers agency Lookat Photos in 1990. Thomas Kern has won twice a World Press Award and has been awarded several Swiss national scholarships. His work has been widely exhibited and it is represented in various collections.
Thomas Stephens (text) and Thomas Kern (picture editor), swissinfo.ch
While some of these recent constructions are more solid than others, they all send the same message: “Stay home.”
Land-locked Switzerland, like almost every other country around the world, has implemented various measures to try to stem the spread of Covid-19.
In Switzerland, this includes entry restrictions for citizens of every country apart from Liechtenstein. The most visible signs are at the border with Switzerland’s four other neighbours: France, Germany, Austria and Italy.
Only Swiss citizens, Swiss residents, cross-border workers and those passing through can enter. Even foreign partners of Swiss citizens who do not have a right of residence will be turned away. Cross-border shoppers will even be fined CHF100 ($103).
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Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
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An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
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