Travel Corona: The federal government only classifies four countries as risk areas

The federal government is adjusting the rules: only these four states are now considered risk areas

Belgium, the Czech Republic, Andorra and Armenia: The Federal Council only classifies these four states and three areas in France as regions at greatest risk of coronavirus infection. The government changed the regulation on Wednesday.

>>> Coronavirus: all the news in the live ticker

The new regulation applies from Thursday. Only those entering Switzerland from these four countries must remain in quarantine for ten days. In France, the regions apply Hauts-de-France is Ile de France / Paris and the overseas territory of French Polynesia as risk areas.

Almost 12,100 returnees from countries at risk were quarantined in Switzerland on Wednesday morning. So far, over sixty countries and numerous areas in all neighboring countries of Switzerland have been placed on the corona risk list.

In view of the large number of cases in Switzerland, the Federal Council has now decided to radically change course. So far the rule has been: a country with more than 60 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days has ended up on the list. There were exceptions for border areas.

The Federal Council has now adapted the rule, according to which the risk list now only includes states or areas with a value of 14 days per 100,000 inhabitants, more than 60 compared to Switzerland. In Switzerland, according to data from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the current value is several times higher than in other countries, ie around 763.

Health Minister Alain Berset said a week ago that there was no point in including regions on the risk list if Switzerland had significantly more cases of infection than it did.

The exemption provisions for business travelers and those traveling for medical reasons will also be adjusted. The Federal Council repeals the rule that such journeys can last a maximum of five days. (cma / sda)