The Swiss Federal Council has now approved a proposal that will relax entry requirements of those arriving from the Schengen Area and third countries.
As per the latest reports, the decision will come into effect on June 26, after which, those entering Switzerland from any of the Schengen Area countries will no longer be subject to entry restrictions upon arrival. Apart from this, vaccinated travellers arriving from these countries will also enjoy exemption from the requirement of showing negative COVID-19 test results.
Reportedly, only those who haven’t taken the vaccination jabs will have to present negative COVID-19 test results.
As per a press release issued by the Federal Council, to simplify the current Coronavirus containment measures, those arriving by plane, vaccinated as well as non-vaccinated, will be required to provide their contact details.
The press release further notes that along with easing the entry restrictions, the list of countries issued by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) has also been amended accordingly.
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Meanwhile, the Federal Office of Public Health will be revising the current list of high-risk countries, which will include only those regions and countries that are still dealing with the worrying virus variant. However, reports have it that travellers from these countries will also be permitted to enter Switzerland without testing and quarantine, if they have recently recovered from the virus or have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Rest, will have to produce a negative PCR test or rapid antigen test, and will also have to undergo quarantine on entry.
Referring to the said decision, the Federal Office explains that it has been taken after the Swiss health authorities asserted that “the vaccines used in Switzerland are only slightly less effective against the Delta variant and thus still offer a very high level of protection.”