Ahead of a likely government decision on Wednesday, the weekend press cites politicians from all major Swiss parties in favour of a negative test obligation for travellers from China, where coronavirus numbers are spiking.
“We should move to strictly control the borders now, otherwise we’ll have to bring in preventive measures in Switzerland later,” Thomas Aeschi of the Swiss People’s Party told the NZZ am Sonntag.
So far Swiss authorities have held off on such a requirement. A European Union recommendation earlier this week prompted various countries to introduce the measure, and now all of Switzerland’s immediate neighbours – Austria, France, Germany, and Italy – have a negative test rule.
Lukas Engelberger, president of Switzerland’s Conference of Cantonal Health Directors, told the NZZ am Sonntag that Switzerland should act “as much as possible” in coordination with other EU states.
More
More
Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
This content was published on
An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
Epidemiologists cited had a slightly different view. Huldrych Günthard of the University Hospital of Zurich told the SonntagsBlick that such a testing regime made “no sense”; mandatory vaccination for travellers from China is the best way to reduce the risk of overburdening the Swiss healthcare system, he said.
Manuel Schibler, head of virology at the University Hospital of Geneva, reiterated to Le Matin Dimanche the importance of continuing to collect data via regular sequencing of test results. This is sufficient to “get an idea of what is circulating in our country”, he said.
The Federal Office of Public Health has maintained that the high level of Covid-19 immunity among the Swiss population, via vaccination or infection, is enough to prevent a new wave. “We do not think the current outbreak in China could pose a major risk to the Swiss healthcare system,” it said on Friday.
The NZZ am Sonntag writes that the first direct flight from China to Switzerland is due to arrive in Geneva on January 26.
Switzerland will deliver rubble removal equipment to Ukraine
This content was published on
Thirty rubble removal machines and thirty fire-fighting pumps: this is the equipment that Switzerland will be delivering to the Ukraine in the next few days. The total value of these goods is 5.6 million Swiss francs.
A third of Swiss residents plan to change health insurers
This content was published on
After the announced sharp increase in premiums for 2025, about one in three people would be considering changing health insurance companies.
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
Swiss examine Covid test obligation for travellers from China
This content was published on
While countries around the world impose curbs on travellers from China, the Swiss authorities are still weighing up possible measures.
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.