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‘It’s a challenge’: Swiss doctors call for mask requirement in shops and clubs

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‘It’s a challenge’: Swiss doctors call for mask requirement in shops and clubs
People wear masks at a fruit shop in Lausanne. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Switzerland is set to introduce a mask requirement for public transport, but with infections rising Swiss doctors feel that more needs to be done.

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Swiss cantonal doctors have called for the mask requirement to be extended to include supermarkets, shops and clubs. 

After being in single digits at the start of June, the number of new infections in one day again rose above 100 on Wednesday. 

READ: Everything you need to know about Switzerland's new mask requirement

The R-Rate - the important metric which shows how the virus is spreading through the community - also climbed above 1.5 in recent days. 

President of the Association of Swiss Cantonal Physicians, Zuger Rudolf Hauri told SRF “from an epidemiological point of view, an expansion to the entire public space would definitely be conceivable and we would also welcome that."

“It’s a big challenge”. 

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In addition to shops and supermarkets, Hauri argued that masks should be made compulsory in museums and other public spaces. 

The reluctance to put in place a mask requirement has made Switzerland something of an outlier among its neighbours. 

Germany introduced mask requirements in all of its 16 states in late April in public transport and shops. Some states also made it a requirement in other public spaces.

As of mid-June, the requirement is set to remain valid for the foreseeable future. 

Italy also put in place a mask requirement in April. In France, a mask requirement came into place in early May.

While a mask requirement will be enforced from July 6th on public transport in Switzerland, shops are not included. 

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