Belgium adds, then removes, Ticino from travel warning list
Ticino was briefly added to a Belgian “orange” travel warning list, which urged arrivals to quarantine and take a Covid-19 test if they had been in the southern Swiss canton. An intervention by the Swiss foreign ministry then saw Ticino struck off the list on Thursday.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/mga
The foreign ministry said it was “satisfied” that Ticino had been removed from the list. Diplomats intervened following objections from the Ticino government and health authorities.
In common with many countries, including Switzerland, Belgium monitors the Covid-19 threat from other countries and applies restrictions on places deemed to be a high risk. There was no explanation of why Ticino was temporarily listed as orange, signifying a medium threat of infection.
Ticino, which borders Italy, was one of the worst hit cantons during the pandemic, but other cantons have recorded higher infection numbers. Switzerland as a whole has registered more than 33,000 confirmed cases and nearly 1,700 deaths and has experienced a rise in cases since the end of a lockdown period.
The country has ordered extra measures to counter a second wave of the pandemic, including compulsory face masks on public transport. Several cantons have added their own measures, including Ticino which included tight restrictions on the number of people who can gather together in public places.
Ticino has also ordered restaurant and bar staff to wear face masks from Monday having only recommended the protective gear up until now.
Popular Stories
More
Culture
Documentary portrays Swiss teenagers forced to return to parents’ homeland
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
Swiss university graduates are popular hires worldwide
This content was published on
Graduates of Swiss universities are popular with international employers, according to the Global Employability University Rankings.
French cross-border workers in Switzerland fear ‘discriminatory’ unemployment reform
This content was published on
In the French region around Geneva, cross-border workers are protesting proposals to cut unemployment benefits for those working in Switzerland.
Swan infected with bird flu in central Switzerland
This content was published on
Switzerland has reported its first bird flu case of the season. A swan found dead in central Switzerland tested positive for the H5N1 virus.
Swiss researchers identify gene variants linked to cancer progression
This content was published on
ETH Zurich researchers explored genetic mutations’ effects on cell function and their role in cancer development and treatment using CRISPR/Cas techniques.
Explosion at Swiss company Givaudan’s US plant leaves two dead
This content was published on
Swiss flavour and fragrance maker Givaudan reported that an explosion at its Kentucky plant resulted in two deaths and several injuries.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Switzerland publishes list of ‘high risk’ travel quarantine countries
This content was published on
The Federal Office of Public Health published the listExternal link on Thursday as part of new measures taken by the Swiss authorities to prevent a second wave of the pandemic. After flattening the peak in March, infection rates have been creeping up over the past two weeks, sometimes rising to above 100 on certain days.…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.