Will Switzerland introduce coronavirus testing at airports to cut quarantine?
Zurich Airport is considering following the lead of Germany and Austria in introducing rapid coronavirus tests which can cut quarantine times.
These tests have already been introduced at airports throughout Germany and Austria and have been successful in cutting quarantine times.
In Germany and Austria, passengers who receive a negative test can enter the country. Late on Friday, Germany announced that testing would be free for all returnees.
READ: How to get tested for coronavirus at Germany's airports
Results are available within a few hours, although there have been concerns about the reliability of the tests.
Zurich Airport has made coronavirus testing voluntarily available, but Swiss politicians have argued that the tests should be made compulsory.
FDP National Councillor Matthias Jauslin argued that all returnees must be mandatorily tested, allowing them to return to work without quarantine as long as they test negative.
READ MORE: ‘Anyone could be quarantined': Switzerland repeats advice not to travel abroad
SVP National Councillor Verena Herzog agreed, although she said it was of crucial importance that the tests were reliable.
Jasmin Bodmer, a spokesperson for Zurich Airport, has said for now the tests - which cost CHF180 - will remain voluntary.
"So far there has been no federal requirement for rapid corona tests."
As it stands, even those who test negative at Zurich Airport are still required to complete a ten-day quarantine if they have returned from a high-risk country.
Between 30 and 80 tests are carried out each day.
Editor's note: Please keep in mind that this article, as with all of our guides, are to provide assistance only. They are not intended to take the place of official legal advice.
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These tests have already been introduced at airports throughout Germany and Austria and have been successful in cutting quarantine times.
In Germany and Austria, passengers who receive a negative test can enter the country. Late on Friday, Germany announced that testing would be free for all returnees.
READ: How to get tested for coronavirus at Germany's airports
Results are available within a few hours, although there have been concerns about the reliability of the tests.
Zurich Airport has made coronavirus testing voluntarily available, but Swiss politicians have argued that the tests should be made compulsory.
FDP National Councillor Matthias Jauslin argued that all returnees must be mandatorily tested, allowing them to return to work without quarantine as long as they test negative.
READ MORE: ‘Anyone could be quarantined': Switzerland repeats advice not to travel abroad
SVP National Councillor Verena Herzog agreed, although she said it was of crucial importance that the tests were reliable.
Jasmin Bodmer, a spokesperson for Zurich Airport, has said for now the tests - which cost CHF180 - will remain voluntary.
"So far there has been no federal requirement for rapid corona tests."
As it stands, even those who test negative at Zurich Airport are still required to complete a ten-day quarantine if they have returned from a high-risk country.
Between 30 and 80 tests are carried out each day.
Editor's note: Please keep in mind that this article, as with all of our guides, are to provide assistance only. They are not intended to take the place of official legal advice.
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