UPDATED: What are the coronavirus measures in every Swiss canton?
Several Swiss cantons have gone beyond the federal minimum by putting in place their own measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
Note: These measures are up to date as at 25th November, 2020.
While some have largely stuck to the federal framework, others - particularly those in the hard-hit west and south of the country - have put in place stronger measures.
Here are the measures in place in each of Switzerland’s 26 cantons. These measures are in addition to those which apply at the federal level.
While cantons are free to adopt any measures they see fit in the battle against the virus, they are also required to abide by those put in place at a federal level.
READ: Switzerland's new coronavirus measures explained
Have we missed anything? Is there anything you’d like to mention about the measures in your canton? Please get in touch at [email protected] to let us know.
Which states have not put in place any measures?
Several cantons have been happy to stick with the minimums adopted at the federal level.
Despite cases skyrocketing in recent weeks, Appenzeller Innerrhoden has elected not to go beyond the federal minimum. Glarus, Schaffhausen and Thurgau have also elected to stick with the federal minimum.
Aargau
There is a limit of 50 people in bars and clubs and all such venues need to present a hygiene plan in order to reach this amount.
Adults are required to wear masks in elementary and secondary schools.
Appenzeller Ausserrhoden
The canton has gone beyond the federal mask requirement, calling for masks to be worn in all outdoor areas which are publicly accessible - including markets and other businesses.
Employees are also required to wear masks indoors.
Switzerland's new outdoor mask requirement: Everything you need to know
At the federal level, masks must be worn outdoors when the mandatory distance of 1.5 metres cannot be kept.
Basel City
Basel City from Monday, November 23rd put in place stricter new lockdown measures.
Restaurants, cafes and bars will be required to close under the new rules, but work and school canteens along with hotel restaurants for guests and street kitchens will be allowed to remain open.
READ: Switzerland's test positivity rate 'among the worst in Europe'
Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to serve takeaway food, although there will be a curfew on takeaway services from 11pm to 5am.
Casinos and other gaming rooms will be forced to close.
Strip clubs and brothels will also be required to close.
Gyms, fitness centres, indoor swimming pools, dance studios, ice rinks and wellness centres will also be forced to close.
Non-professional sports clubs will no longer be allowed to train.
Events are to be restricted to 15 people.
Beauty service providers such as hairdressers and massage providers will be allowed to remain open.
Basel Country
Only a maximum of 15 people can attend events, both public and private.
Bars and restaurants are closed, with only takeaway available. Bars and restaurants must be closed completely between 11pm and 5am.
Gyms, indoor swimming pools, dance studios, fitness and wellness centres, ice sports facilities and interiors of other sports facilities and sports stadiums are closed.
Casinos, erotic shops, leisure and entertainment facilities are closed.
Adults are required to wear masks in elementary and secondary schools, other than in classrooms.
Students in secondary schools must wear masks, other than in classrooms.
Bern
Only a maximum of 15 people can attend events.
There is a limit of 100 people in bars and clubs and all such venues need to present a hygiene plan in order to reach this amount. Restaurants may however operate several different rooms with a max of 100 in each.
Students in secondary schools must wear masks, other than in classrooms.
Museums, gyms, fitness centres and cinemas must be closed.
On November 19th, Bern extended its coronavirus measures until December 7th.
Fribourg
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than ten people.
Restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, gyms and fitness centres and swimming pools are closed until the end of November.
Geneva
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than five people.
Restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, gyms and fitness centres and swimming pools are closed until the end of November.
Non-essential shops are also closed.
Schools up to secondary level may remain open.
Measures are to remain in place until November 29th, at the earliest.
READ MORE
Why does Geneva have the 'highest number of coronavirus infections in Europe'?
Everything you need to know about Geneva's coronavirus shutdown
Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP
Graubünden
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school.
Jura
One of Switzerland’s heaviest-hit cantons, Jura is currently under a state of emergency.
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than five people.
Restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, gyms and fitness centres and swimming pools are closed until the end of November.
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school and for people in offices.
Lucerne
There is a limit of 100 people in bars and clubs and all such venues need to present a hygiene plan in order to reach this amount.
Masks are required in secondary school and in markets.
Sex shops are closed.
People in retirement homes and in hospitals may have a maximum of two visitors per day.
Masks are required in cars and in offices, provided the car or office contains two or more people who do not live in the same house.
Neuchâtel
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than five people.
Restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, gyms and fitness centres and swimming pools are closed until the end of November.
Masks are required in secondary school and in offices.
Nidwalden
Masks are required for teachers in secondary schools.
Public events are limited to 30 people.
Sex shops and brothels must remain closed.
Obwalden
Public events are limited to 30 people.
Schwyz
Public events are limited to 30 people.
Masks must be worn in offices.
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school.
Solothurn
Public events are limited to 30 people, while private events cannot have more than five people.
Bars and restaurants cannot have more than 30 people and must be closed from 11pm to 6am.
One visitor per day in hospitals and retirement homes.
Sex shops and brothels must remain closed, along with shisha bars.
St Gallen
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school.
Visits to hospitals and nursing homes are banned other than for parents of hospitalised children and for close relatives at birth.
Ticino
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than five people.
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school.
Group sport cannot take place.
Uri
Public events are limited to 30 people.
Vaud
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than five people.
Restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, gyms and fitness centres and swimming pools are closed until the end of November.
Valais
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than ten people.
Restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, gyms and fitness centres and swimming pools are closed until the end of November.
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school.
UPDATE: Valais becomes latest Swiss canton to tighten coronavirus restrictions
Zug
There is a limit of 100 people in bars and clubs and all such venues need to present a hygiene plan in order to reach this amount.
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school. Masks are required in class unless distance can be maintained.
Zurich
There is a limit of 300 people in bars and clubs and all such venues need to present a hygiene plan in order to reach this amount.
Adults must wear masks at schools.
Editor’s note: The above information has been provided as a guide only and does not constitute legal advice. Please check with cantonal authorities for up to date information.
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Note: These measures are up to date as at 25th November, 2020.
While some have largely stuck to the federal framework, others - particularly those in the hard-hit west and south of the country - have put in place stronger measures.
Here are the measures in place in each of Switzerland’s 26 cantons. These measures are in addition to those which apply at the federal level.
While cantons are free to adopt any measures they see fit in the battle against the virus, they are also required to abide by those put in place at a federal level.
READ: Switzerland's new coronavirus measures explained
Have we missed anything? Is there anything you’d like to mention about the measures in your canton? Please get in touch at [email protected] to let us know.
Which states have not put in place any measures?
Several cantons have been happy to stick with the minimums adopted at the federal level.
Despite cases skyrocketing in recent weeks, Appenzeller Innerrhoden has elected not to go beyond the federal minimum. Glarus, Schaffhausen and Thurgau have also elected to stick with the federal minimum.
Aargau
There is a limit of 50 people in bars and clubs and all such venues need to present a hygiene plan in order to reach this amount.
Adults are required to wear masks in elementary and secondary schools.
Appenzeller Ausserrhoden
The canton has gone beyond the federal mask requirement, calling for masks to be worn in all outdoor areas which are publicly accessible - including markets and other businesses.
Employees are also required to wear masks indoors.
Switzerland's new outdoor mask requirement: Everything you need to know
At the federal level, masks must be worn outdoors when the mandatory distance of 1.5 metres cannot be kept.
Basel City
Basel City from Monday, November 23rd put in place stricter new lockdown measures.
Restaurants, cafes and bars will be required to close under the new rules, but work and school canteens along with hotel restaurants for guests and street kitchens will be allowed to remain open.
READ: Switzerland's test positivity rate 'among the worst in Europe'
Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to serve takeaway food, although there will be a curfew on takeaway services from 11pm to 5am.
Casinos and other gaming rooms will be forced to close.
Strip clubs and brothels will also be required to close.
Gyms, fitness centres, indoor swimming pools, dance studios, ice rinks and wellness centres will also be forced to close.
Non-professional sports clubs will no longer be allowed to train.
Events are to be restricted to 15 people.
Beauty service providers such as hairdressers and massage providers will be allowed to remain open.
Basel Country
Only a maximum of 15 people can attend events, both public and private.
Bars and restaurants are closed, with only takeaway available. Bars and restaurants must be closed completely between 11pm and 5am.
Gyms, indoor swimming pools, dance studios, fitness and wellness centres, ice sports facilities and interiors of other sports facilities and sports stadiums are closed.
Casinos, erotic shops, leisure and entertainment facilities are closed.
Adults are required to wear masks in elementary and secondary schools, other than in classrooms.
Students in secondary schools must wear masks, other than in classrooms.
Bern
Only a maximum of 15 people can attend events.
There is a limit of 100 people in bars and clubs and all such venues need to present a hygiene plan in order to reach this amount. Restaurants may however operate several different rooms with a max of 100 in each.
Students in secondary schools must wear masks, other than in classrooms.
Museums, gyms, fitness centres and cinemas must be closed.
On November 19th, Bern extended its coronavirus measures until December 7th.
Fribourg
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than ten people.
Restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, gyms and fitness centres and swimming pools are closed until the end of November.
Geneva
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than five people.
Restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, gyms and fitness centres and swimming pools are closed until the end of November.
Non-essential shops are also closed.
Schools up to secondary level may remain open.
Measures are to remain in place until November 29th, at the earliest.
READ MORE
Why does Geneva have the 'highest number of coronavirus infections in Europe'?
Everything you need to know about Geneva's coronavirus shutdown
Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP
Graubünden
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school.
Jura
One of Switzerland’s heaviest-hit cantons, Jura is currently under a state of emergency.
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than five people.
Restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, gyms and fitness centres and swimming pools are closed until the end of November.
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school and for people in offices.
Lucerne
There is a limit of 100 people in bars and clubs and all such venues need to present a hygiene plan in order to reach this amount.
Masks are required in secondary school and in markets.
Sex shops are closed.
People in retirement homes and in hospitals may have a maximum of two visitors per day.
Masks are required in cars and in offices, provided the car or office contains two or more people who do not live in the same house.
Neuchâtel
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than five people.
Restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, gyms and fitness centres and swimming pools are closed until the end of November.
Masks are required in secondary school and in offices.
Nidwalden
Masks are required for teachers in secondary schools.
Public events are limited to 30 people.
Sex shops and brothels must remain closed.
Obwalden
Public events are limited to 30 people.
Schwyz
Public events are limited to 30 people.
Masks must be worn in offices.
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school.
Solothurn
Public events are limited to 30 people, while private events cannot have more than five people.
Bars and restaurants cannot have more than 30 people and must be closed from 11pm to 6am.
One visitor per day in hospitals and retirement homes.
Sex shops and brothels must remain closed, along with shisha bars.
St Gallen
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school.
Visits to hospitals and nursing homes are banned other than for parents of hospitalised children and for close relatives at birth.
Ticino
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than five people.
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school.
Group sport cannot take place.
Uri
Public events are limited to 30 people.
Vaud
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than five people.
Restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, gyms and fitness centres and swimming pools are closed until the end of November.
Valais
Private and public gatherings cannot have more than ten people.
Restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, gyms and fitness centres and swimming pools are closed until the end of November.
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school.
UPDATE: Valais becomes latest Swiss canton to tighten coronavirus restrictions
Zug
There is a limit of 100 people in bars and clubs and all such venues need to present a hygiene plan in order to reach this amount.
Masks are required for pupils in secondary school. Masks are required in class unless distance can be maintained.
Zurich
There is a limit of 300 people in bars and clubs and all such venues need to present a hygiene plan in order to reach this amount.
Adults must wear masks at schools.
Editor’s note: The above information has been provided as a guide only and does not constitute legal advice. Please check with cantonal authorities for up to date information.
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