Belgium takes cantons Valais and Vaud off its Covid risk list
The mountain resort of Zinal in Valais is particularly popular with Belgian tourists.
Keystone / Arno Balzarini
Switzerland says Belgium has pledged to remove two Swiss regions from its list of coronavirus risk countries following an intervention by the foreign ministry.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/urs
Español
es
Bélgica retira al Valais y a Vaud de lista de riesgo
Cantons Valais and Vaud will again be declared safe as of Wednesday, but canton Geneva will remain on the list, according to Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.
He said he was relieved about the Belgian move and wished all Belgian tourists happy holidays in Switzerland. Valais and Vaud are particularly popular travel destinations.
The three regions were blacklisted on Saturday, prompting protests from the cantonal governments and calls for the Swiss foreign ministry to contact the Belgian authorities.
It is still not clear what criteria the Belgian government applied for its ban, but people were told they must not travel to the specified regions and those returning to Belgium must be tested for the virus and go into quarantine.
Last month the southern canton of Ticino was briefly put on a Belgian travel warning list.
More
More
Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
This content was published on
An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
Have you heard something about Swiss diplomacy that you’d like us to fact check?
Not all information circulating about Switzerland’s foreign relations is accurate or well understood. Tell us what you'd like us to fact check or clarify.
Researchers find high microbial diversity in glacial streams
This content was published on
Swiss researchers have discovered a surprising diversity of microorganisms in glacial streams around the world. However, this diversity is under threat as soon as it is discovered.
This content was published on
Fewer electric cars were sold in Switzerland in 2024 compared to the previous year. The electric mobility association Swiss eMobility says this is only a temporary dip.
This content was published on
Sunshine and fresh snow attracted winter sports fans to Swiss ski resorts over the holiday period. Many ski stations reported record figures.
New Year’s speech: President Keller-Sutter praises Swiss modesty
This content was published on
The Swiss president for 2025, Karin Keller-Sutter, has underlined the importance of compromise and modesty in Swiss politics in her New Year’s address to the nation.
Lindt wins ‘chocolate ball’ legal case against Aldi
This content was published on
Chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprüngli has won a legal case against the retailer Aldi Suisse for infringing the trademark rights of its Lindor chocolate balls.
Campaigners want Swiss central bank to hold bitcoin in reserves
This content was published on
Campaigners have launched a people's initiative to oblige the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to hold part of its reserves in bitcoin.
Switzerland welcomes 2025 with fireworks and ice plunges
This content was published on
Fireworks lit up the skies in Switzerland to celebrate New Year's Eve. Some people welcomed the new year by plunging into lakes in freezing temperatures.
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.