The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Covid: Swiss government plans further restrictions

stacked up wicker chairs in an alley
These restaurant chairs will remain stacked up until March if the Swiss government has its way. Keystone/Urs Flüeler

Restaurants and leisure venues in Switzerland look set to remain closed until March in a bid to halt an expected rise in Covid-19 infections.

Interior Minister Alain Berset said the pandemic situation in Switzerland was serious despite restrictions introduced last month.

“The infections have remained at more or less the same level since the beginning of December,” Berset told a news conference on Wednesday.

The government has prepared a series of proposals, notably extending the closure of restaurants, bars, culture venues and sports across the country until the end of February.

A final decision will be taken next week following consultations with the 26 cantons, employers’ organisations and trade unions.

Berset, whose portfolio includes health matters, said the government was aware of the difficult situation, especially faced by the restaurant sector, culture organisations and sports clubs. He said additional economic aid was being considered to cushion the impact of the restrictions.

However, he said the restrictions in Switzerland remained less strict than in many other European countries even if the rate of infections, deaths or hospitalisations is comparatively high.

Rejecting criticism

Confronted with criticism about the government’s vaccination policy, Berset reiterated that Switzerland had placed orders for more than 15 million jabs for a population of 8.5 million residents.

He said a supply of 500,000 doses of vaccine would arrive in Switzerland by the end of this month and an additional one million doses by March.

Berset also rejected criticism about “half-hearted measures” in the face of the epidemic and the threat of rapidly rising infections in the next few weeks due to the spread of more contagious new strains of coronavirus from Britain and South Africa.

“The government’s aim has always been to reduce suffering and harm for everybody in Switzerland,” he said.

The government had to take into account the interests of many sectors of society and the economy, he added.

Berset said the Swiss political system and its federalist structure, as well as the legal basis, made it necessary for the national government to include the cantons in its decisions.

“This is very demanding,” Berset said.

More

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Solar aeroplane flies around the Matterhorn

More

Solar plane flies around Matterhorn

This content was published on Solar energy pioneer Raphaël Domjan and his team continued preparations for the altitude record attempt at 10,000 metres with the SolarStratos solar aircraft.

Read more: Solar plane flies around Matterhorn
Compulsory vaccination against cattle disease in Geneva and parts of Vaud

More

Vaccinations imposed for some Swiss cattle

This content was published on Cattle in the canton of Geneva and in the neighbouring region of Terre Sainte in the canton of Vaud are being vaccinated against the contagious viral skin nodule disease. The first cases of the animal disease were reported at the end of June in France, just outside Geneva.

Read more: Vaccinations imposed for some Swiss cattle
Small rockfalls occurred above Brienz GR

More

Rockfalls measured above Swiss village

This content was published on A series of rockfalls occurred above the village of Brienz between 9 and 12 July. According to the municipality of Albula, the overall situation remains tense. Several people disregarded the ban on entering the area around the village.

Read more: Rockfalls measured above Swiss village
Arosa Bergbahnen with record sales

More

Arosa cable cars celebrate record year

This content was published on Arosa Bergbahnen achieved the highest figure in its 95-year history in the 2024/25 financial year with net revenue of CHF 37 million. Arosa Lenzerheide was able to capitalise on strengths such as snow reliability and the size of the ski area in a long winter season, the company announced on Thursday.

Read more: Arosa cable cars celebrate record year
Unknown persons steal dental implants from Solothurn company

More

Dental implants stolen in million-franc raid

This content was published on Unknown perpetrators stole ceramic dental implants during a break-in at a company in Oensingen, northern Switzerland, on Tuesday night.

Read more: Dental implants stolen in million-franc raid
Rockfalls affect tourism at the Grande Dixence dam

More

Rockfalls affect tourism at tallest dam in Europe

This content was published on The Grande Dixence dam in Lower Valais is closed to visitors due to a rockfall last weekend. The nearby hotel also had to temporarily suspend operations for safety reasons.

Read more: Rockfalls affect tourism at tallest dam in Europe

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

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.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR