Four hands, three masks: a visit to the hairdresser is more complicated than it used to be.
Urs Flüeler/Keystone
Off to the hairdresser, the florist or the DIY superstore: Monday was the first day that people in Switzerland slowly began emerging from the coronavirus lockdown. Masks remain an omnipresent reminder of the danger.
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2 minutes
Studied history and politics at University of Bern. Worked at Reuters, the newspapers Der Bund and Berner Zeitung, and the Förderband radio station. I am concerned with the Swiss practice of modern direct democracy in all its aspects and at all levels, my constant focus being the citizen.
As a photo editor I am responsible for the editorial use of photography at SWI swissinfo.ch and our collaborations with photographers. When the opportunity arises, I take a camera and accompany one of our journalists.
I trained as a photographer in Zürich and began working as a photojournalist in 1989. I was a founder of the Swiss photographers' agency Lookat Photos in 1990. A two-time World Press Award winner, I have also been awarded several Swiss national scholarships. My work has been widely exhibited and it is represented in various collections.
After five weeks of the semi-lockdown measures ordered by the Swiss government, the population can resume a few activities that had been forbidden.
A client in Bern has her eyebrows dyed.
Peter Klaunzer/Keystone
You don’t need to be a psychic to predict that hair salons will be very busy in the next days, either taming outgrown manes or trying to fix botched attempts to cut and colour at home.
A woman pays for her geraniums in a newly-reopened garden and DIY superstore.
Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone
People can also visit cosmetic and nail studios, as well as DIY and garden centres. At the same time, doctors, dentists and physiotherapists can open their doors for non-urgent appointments. Hospitals can carry out the procedures that had to be postponed on account of Covid-19.
But social distancing and hygiene rules for stopping the spread of the virus are still in effect, and groups should still be limited to five people.
Customers have had ample time to think about what to plant on balconies and in gardens.
Laurent Gillieron/Keystone
In general, people are not required to wear masks. But stores need to uphold strict hygiene rules while ensuring that there is enough distance between customers. Schools and other shops are expected to open in two weeks.
A couple browsing the aisles of a DIY megastore near Zurich
Ennio Leanza/Keystone
If there is not a clear increase in the number of infections, upper secondary and vocational schools, plus universities and other higher education institutions, should be able to re-open on June 8, along with museums, libraries and zoos.
The coronavirus crisis in photos – our continually updated gallery about life in Switzerland during the semi-lockdown:
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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.
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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.