Before the new rule went into effect Wednesday at midnight, the government paid for PCR screening for contact persons — those who live with or had “regular and close” contact with someone who tested positive.
Under the previous framework, anyone who had close contact with a Covid-positive person was required to isolate for five days.
But since these contacts are no longer required to quarantine, their PCR tests are not covered.
However, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), there are a range of exceptions.
The government will continue to pay costs of screening for certain groups of people, including those living in elderly care facilities, hospital patients and healthcare workers, as well as people who are at a particularly high risk, such as those undergoing chemotherapy.
All the others will have to pay for their tests themselves; prices for PCR tests range from 110 to 195 francs, depending on the screening location and rapidity of results.
The Federal Council announced the lifting of contact quarantine on February 2nd, along with the end of the home-working obligation.
READ MORE: UPDATE: Swiss to end quarantine and working from home obligation from Wednesday
Other measures, like the Covid certificate requirement and restrictions on private meetings, could be scrapped from February 17th, provided Switzerland’s epidemiological situation allows it.
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