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What do I do if I catch Covid while on holiday in Switzerland?

Helena Bachmann
Helena Bachmann - [email protected]
What do I do if I catch Covid while on holiday in Switzerland?
You are free to roam, even if you have Covid. Photo: Pixabay

It is no longer 2020 or even 2021, so the risk of having your vacation spoiled by a coronavirus infection while in Switzerland is slim. Here's what you need to know.

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Obviously, nobody wants to get sick while on holiday, especially as in the past getting the Covid infection resulted in inconveniences such as  isolation and quarantine.

That was the case when virulent variants like Alpha and Delta were dominant, making many people seriously ill.

However, that is no longer the case in rule-free Switzerland, at least for the time being.

Due to a lesser severity of the Omicron variant and non-existent restrictions, coronavirus is no longer a public health threat it used to be.

As Omicron — which had usurped Delta as a dominant strain at the end of 2021 — causes only mild symptoms in most people, all the previous health measures had been gradually lifted between February 17th and April 1st.

This includes the mask requirement, as well as the obligation to isolate for five days if you test positive to coronavirus.

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Does the end of the latter of the two requirements mean you are no longer obligated to stay indoors if you catch Covid?

As The Local reported in a recent story, “legally there isn’t anything to prevent you from going out and about”.

There is, however, a thing called  ‘individual responsibility’ that has been mentioned so often during the pandemic.

“Even without an obligation to isolate, a sick person should not go out in public”, said  Patrick Mathys, head of crisis management at the Federal Office for Public Health (FOPH).

READ MORE: Reader question: Do I have to stay home if I catch Covid in Switzerland after April 1st?

So what should you do if you test positive to Covid  while visiting Switzerland?

You have two choices: either you stay indoors so as not to spread the virus to other people, or you exercise your right to go out  regardless.

If you opt for the latter, be aware that you might be infecting vulnerable people, so wear a mask: this act would fall under the aforementioned ‘individual responsibility’ category, which is important to practice, even if you are a tourist and Switzerland is not your home.

However, keep in mind that if you have an active infection, with or without symptoms, you may not be able to return to your country, as some nations still have certain coronavirus measures in place.

READ MORE: What Covid rules are in place in these common Swiss Easter destinations?

 

 

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