Do you have any questions regarding the risk of infection, travel and tourism, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, and protecting yourself from infection? You will find many answers here.
- Infection and risks
- Tests
- Blood donations
- Pregnancy
- Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
- Protective measures
- Wearing masks in public
- Funeral arrangements
- Clearing out a home after a death
- Workplace
- Easing the measures
- SwissCovid App
- Children and school
- Sport
- Travel and tourism
- The new coronavirus and COVID-19 disease
- FAQs to other offices and departements
- Links
Infection and risks
How is the new coronavirus transmitted?
Why is it important to follow rules on hygiene and how to behave around others?
How long is the period between infection and the appearance of symptoms? And when do people become contagious?
What do you have to do if you have been in contact with someone infected with the new coronavirus?
Can adults go and visit their parents and grandparents again?
Can you become infected simply by walking past someone who is infected?
Can the new coronavirus be transmitted via foodstuffs?
Can animals here in Switzerland transmit the new coronavirus?
What should pet owners do if they are put in isolation at home?
Can the coronavirus be transmitted via door handles, mobile phones or other everyday objects?
What surfaces can the coronavirus attach itself to? And how long does it remain infectious?
Is there a higher risk of becoming infected with the new coronavirus if you smoke?
Can I catch the coronavirus through the air? What do I need to consider?
How can I reduce the risk of becoming infected in rooms?
Does air-conditioning contribute to the spread of the new coronavirus?
I live in a Minergie building with comfort ventilation. Am I at greater risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus?
By close and prolonged contact: If you’re closer than two metres to a person who has con-tracted the illness.
By droplet infection: If one person sneezes or coughs, the virus can be transported directly to the mucous membranes in the nose, mouth or eyes of other people.
Via your hands: Infectious droplets can get onto your hands from coughing and sneezing. Or you come into contact with a surface contaminated with the virus They can then get into your system if you touch your mouth, nose or eyes.
We are dealing with a new virus against which humans have not yet developed immunity. That is why so many people are being infected and developing the disease, and why the spread of the new coronavirus must be delayed as far as possible.
In particular those at high risk of becoming seriously ill must be protected.
If we follow all of the rules (see «Protect yourself and others»), we can reduce the risk of exposing these people to the infection. That way we can also ensure that our health system is able to continue to provide good treatment to those who are seriously ill. This is important because intensive care units only have a limited number of beds and ventilators.
The new coronavirus has an incubation period – i.e. the time between infection and the appearance of the first symptoms – of around five days. However, this period can last up to 14 days.
Anyone contracting the new coronavirus is infectious for a long time. Namely:
- A day before symptoms appear, so before you even notice that you’ve contracted the disease;.
- While you are experiencing symptoms of the illness. That is when you are most infectious.
- Until at least 48 hours after you have recovered.
Make sure you follow the rules on hygiene and social distancing all the time.
Read and follow closely the recommendations under Isolation and quarantine.
Adults should only visit their parents if they need assistance that they can’t get elsewhere. Rules on visiting old people’s and nursing homes are a matter for the cantons.
If you briefly pass someone who is infected, it is unlikely that you will become infected.
So far there are no known cases of the new coronavirus being transmitted through food or drinking water.
If you want to be quite sure, wash and heat foods properly. You will find more information at www.sichergeniessen.ch.
More detailed information on food and nutrition can be found on the website of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) (in German, French or Italian).
You can best protect yourself by following the rules on hygiene and social distancing (see ‘Protect yourself and others’).
There are no indications to date that animals here in Switzerland (whether pets, such as dogs, cats or hamsters, or insects such as mosquitos, ticks, flies, bugs, flees, etc.) pose a risk of infection for humans, or that they spread the virus.
Further information on coronavirus in connection with animals can be found on the website of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO (in German, French or Italian).
Pet owners in this situation must as far as possible avoid contact with their pets (cats, dogs, rabbits, etc.). They should have a healthy person look after their animals.
If dogs have to go outside, they should be kept on a lead and stay outdoors only briefly. If possible the person accompanying them should avoid contact with other people and animals.
Dogs and cats from a household in quarantine do not have to be specially bathed or disinfected.
The following rule applies to everyone: wash your hands after contact with an animal.
More detailed information on handling animals during this extraordinary situation due to the coronavirus can be found on the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO (in German, French or Italian).
Yes. If a person infected with coronavirus sneezes or coughs into the air, instead of into a tissue or the crook of their arm, droplets containing the virus land on surfaces. If you then come into contact with these surfaces and touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your hand, the virus can get into your body and you can become infected.
Important:
- Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Cough or sneeze into a paper tissue or the crook of your arm.
- Wash your hands every time you cough or sneeze..
The virus can cling to surfaces and objects.
At the moment, there are no clear indications as to how long the virus can remain infectious on different surfaces.
Important: Regularly clean objects or surfaces that you touch frequently. Use a regular cleaning product.
Smoking weakens the immune system in general. It can therefore leave you more susceptible to infection with the new coronavirus.
We therefore strongly recommend you stop smoking. You can significantly boost your chances of kicking the habit successfully if you seek help (see below).
- National Stop Smoking Platform: www.stopsmoking.ch (in German, French, Italian)
- Stop smoking helpline: 0848 000 181 (8 centimes /min., operated by Swiss Cancer League)
- smokefree – anti-smoking campaign: www.smokefree.ch
- Information on protection from passive smoking: www.lungenliga.ch (in German, French, Italian)
Try to protect other household members from the effects of passive smoking, particularly children. Always smoke outside, for example.
Furthermore, smokers are at significantly higher risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 – or even of dying from it.
Further information on the range of illness severity.
If someone close by who is infected coughs, sneezes or speaks to you, droplets can get into your airways and you can become infected with the new coronavirus.
Protect yourself by keeping your distance. And protect others by coughing or sneezing into a paper tissue or – if you don’t have one to hand – the crook of your arm.
One of the most important preventive measures is to air rooms well. The smaller the room and the more people in it, the more often it needs to be aired. You should therefore air rooms well and regularly.
If someone in your household is in isolation, it is all the more important that the whole home is well aired.
What do we mean by ‘air regularly’?
Given that you are probably spending a lot of time at home with others right now, you should air more frequently. That means:
- Open the windows every two hours to create a draft for at least 5-10 minutes.
- In modern homes (Minergie), a mechanical ventilation system (comfort ventilation) assumes this task. On no account should you switch off the ventilation; you should turn it up instead.
As things stand, air-conditioning systems do not pose an increased risk of infection with the new coronavirus as long as they are operated and maintained correctly.
In buildings with no air-conditioning or ventilation systems, rooms should be aired thoroughly on a regular basis. The smaller the room, the more it needs airing.
Classrooms should be aired after every lesson (further tips can be found at www.schulen-lueften.ch (in German, French or Italian).
Direct contact between people is still the most common form of transmission.
No. If you live or work in a Minergie building, you are not at greater risk of catching the virus. The building is fitted with a ventilation system, which ensures that the rooms are well ventilated.
Tests
Some laboratories offer home testing kits. Samples are taken at home and sent in to the laboratory to be analysed. Are these tests’ results reliable?
Are there tests to determine if someone has had the new coronavirus and is now immune to it?
I was sick with the new coronavirus and have since recovered. Is it possible for me to be re-infected with the virus?
I had symptoms consistent with coronavirus and was isolated. I am feeling well again and would like to return to my workplace. Do I need to get tested?
When should I get myself tested for the new coronavirus?
What is meant by ‘close contact’?
No, because taking a proper sample takes training and experience, and therefore needs to be done by an expert. You should not attempt to do this in your home.
Serology tests can detect specific antibodies – such as those against the new coronavirus – in a person’s blood. If you have these antibodies in your blood, this means that you must have been infected with the corresponding disease.
However, we do not yet know how long it takes for antibodies to become measurable in an infected person’s blood. It is also not yet clear if having these antibodies makes a person immune to reinfection. Much research is currently being done to answer these questions.
For these reasons, we do not currently recommend serology tests.
It is likely that you are protected from re-infection if you have been infected with the coronavirus and have antibodies against the virus in your blood. However, it is not yet clear how long this protection lasts. You should therefore continue to follow the rules on hygiene and social distancing.
No, we do not recommend this. You may still test positive for the coronavirus even if you no longer have symptoms. However, the risk of transmitting the virus to someone else is negligible. What is important is that you were isolated for at least ten days and have not had symptoms for at least 48 hours. You should continue to follow the rules on hygiene and social distancing.
Do you feel ill or are you experiencing any of the symptoms of the new coronavirus? If so, stay at home, take the coronavirus check or call your doctor. Try to answer as best you can all the questions that you are asked in the online check or on the phone when you call the doctor. At the end you will be given a recommendation about what to do next which may include getting yourself tested.
Close contact is deemed to be when a person spends long enough in close proximity to someone who is infectious, so that they too may become infected.
Blood donations
Can I still give blood?
Can the coronavirus be passed on through the blood?
Even in the current situation with the coronavirus, people who are seriously ill or injured need blood transfusions.
If you are healthy, you can still give blood as usual. Blood donation centres guarantee that they will comply with the rules on hygiene and social distancing while you are giving blood.
Please be sure to arrange an appointment before going to a blood donation centre. You will find a list of opening hours for blood donation centres and mobile blood donation campaigns at www.blutspende.ch/de/blutspendetermine.
There are no indications that the coronavirus can be passed on through the blood. The transmission of the virus via donated blood is therefore highly unlikely.
Pregnancy
Am I at especially high risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 if I’m pregnant?
I’m pregnant and have questions about the coronavirus. Who should I contact?
I’ve contracted the coronavirus and am expecting a child. Is my baby at risk?
I’m pregnant and have been in contact with someone infected with the coronavirus. What should I do?
I’m pregnant and am in a high-risk group as I have an underlying medical condition. What should I do?
I’m pregnant and infected with the new coronavirus and the baby is due. What should I do?
I’m pregnant and still going to work. Does that pose a threat to me and my unborn child?
There is no evidence at present that healthy pregnant women are at especially high risk of becoming seriously ill. Nevertheless, if you are pregnant you should take every precaution to protect yourself from becoming infected as an acute illness – particularly a cough and high temperature – can have an impact on the pregnancy.
We therefore recommend that you strictly follow the rules on hygiene and social distancing.
Your employer is responsible for implementing protective measures in the workplace.
If you have specific questions about your pregnancy, please contact your gynaecologist or midwife. They can assess your situation and discuss any measures you need to take.
If you experience any symptoms that could indicate a coronavirus infection, call your gynaecologist to discuss further steps.
There is currently no evidence that babies have become infected with the new coronavirus during pregnancy when the mother had contracted COVID-19 before the birth. So far, no viruses have been detected in a mother’s amniotic fluid or breast milk.
However, the new-born baby can become infected after birth via droplets (coughing, sneezing, kissing). However, there is currently no evidence that new-born babies are at increased risk of severe illness.
You can still breastfeed your baby, but it is important that you follow the special hygiene rules. These can protect your new-born child from infection.
If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus, you will be contacted by the cantonal medical service. Follow their instructions and carefully read the page on Isolation and quarantine.
If you experience symptoms of illness (shortness of breath, cough, high temperature), contact your gynaecologist immediately to discuss the necessary steps.
If you are expecting and have an underlying medical condition, contracting the new coronavirus could be harmful to you. You would therefore be categorised as being at especially high risk.
We would strongly urge you to follow our recommendations for people at especially high risk.
If you experience symptoms of illness, contact your gynaecologist immediately to discuss the necessary steps.
If you have tested positive for the coronavirus you will lbe contacted by the cantonal medical service. Follow their instructions and carefully read the page on ‘Isolation and quarantine’.
Notify your gynaecologist straight away, as well as the hospital where you are due to give birth. If you have to go to the hospital or medical practice before the due date, or as an emergency case, call beforehand and tell them that you have tested positive for coronavirus. You will then be told what to do next. Travel to the appointment by car if at all possible.
There is no evidence at present that pregnant women are at higher risk of contracting the new coronavirus. Pregnant women can still go to work as long as their employer respects the applicable rules on hygiene and social distancing. If these measures are not observed in the workplace, pregnant women are afforded special protection under the Maternity Health and Safety Ordinance.
Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
What are the symptoms of coronavirus disease?
I have suddenly lost my sense of smell and/or taste. Have I become infected with the new coronavirus?
What should I do if I’ve been in contact with a person displaying coronavirus symptoms?
What treatment is there for the new coronavirus disease?
Can COVID-19 (new coronavirus disease) be treated with antibiotics?
Is there a connection between Ibuprofen and COVID-19?
What is quarantine, and what do I have to bear in mind?
You can find detailed information under COVID-19 – the disease.
It’s quite possible. One of the symptoms that may be displayed if you become infected with new coronavirus is a sudden loss of your sense of smell and/or taste. You should:
- Stay at home.
- Take the coronavirus check or call your doctor. Answer the questions you are asked in the online check or on the phone as best you can. At the end, you will be given a recommendation as to what to do next and, if necessary, be instructed to get yourself tested.
- Read and follow closely the instructions under 'Isolation and quarantine' (in German, French and Italian).
If there is a possibility that you have become infected it is important that you don’t infect anyone else. You should:
- Stay at home.
- Take the coronavirus check or call your doctor. Answer the questions you are asked in the online check or on the phone as best you can. At the end, you will be given a recommendation as to what to do next and, if necessary, be instructed to get yourself tested.
- Read and follow closely the instructions under 'Isolation and quarantine' (in German, French and Italian).
At the moment there is no specific treatment for the disease caused by the coronavirus. Treatment is limited to easing the symptoms. To protect other people, those infected are placed in isolation. In serious cases, patients usually require intensive care, which may involve artificial ventilation.
No. Antibiotics only work for bacteria, not viruses. For this reason it is not possible to cure the new coronavirus disease with antibiotics.
There is no scientific data to indicate that such a connection exists at the present time. There is no demonstrable proof that Ibuprofen has an effect on the progression of COVID-19.
Instead it is important to know whether patients ill with COVID-19 have any pre-existing conditions or are currently suffering from any other diseases. As is always the case, the treatment will then be carefully adapted to the patient’s situation.
Always keep a list of any medication that you have taken. This list should include all the medication that you take:
- prescribed by a doctor,
- as well as any medication you have taken yourself.
Quarantine is when you stay at home to minimise contact with other people.
If members of a family living together in the same household are in voluntary quarantine, the healthy members can continue to have contact with each other. The person with the disease, however, should remain in isolation and avoid contact with others.
Healthy family members can come out of quarantine if they have not developed symptoms after ten days. Ten days is the period within which most people display the first symptoms.
If symptoms of illness occur among other family members during quarantine:
- Stay at home.
- Take the coronavirus check or call your doctor. Answer the questions you are asked in the online check or on the phone as best you can. At the end, you will be given a recommendation as to what to do next and, if necessary, be instructed to get yourself tested.
- Read and follow closely the instructions under 'Isolation and quarantine' (in German, French and Italian).
Protective measures
How can I protect myself from becoming infected with the new coronavirus?
How can the new coronavirus be rendered harmless?
How can the coronavirus be removed from surfaces or laundry?
Do I need to wear a face mask if I come into contact with someone at especially high risk?
When will we be allowed to shake hands, give greeting kisses and hug friends again?
Should I avoid travelling on public transport, especially at peak times?
Should I wash my hands after touching buttons, handrails and seats on public transport?
Should I avoid paying for things in cash?
Do gloves provide effective protection against transmission of the new coronavirus?
Is it worthwhile having a pneumococcal vaccination to prevent complications related to COVID-19?
You can find information on how to protect yourself under ‘Protect yourself and others’.
If clothes or body parts have been contaminated with the new coronavirus (for example by excretions), you should wash them with soap and water. You can clean objects and surfaces with regular cleaning products available in the shops. It is not necessary to clean or disinfect rooms or large surfaces such as walls.
To be on the safe side, clean household appliances and surfaces that could be contaminated with the virus – and that you use or touch often – regularly and thoroughly. You can use a regular cleaning product.
Wash crockery, glasses, cups and kitchen utensils in the dishwasher or by hand with washing-up liquid after use.
Wash your clothing, bed linen and bath towels regularly in the washing machine.
If it’s not possible to observe a safe distance, it may be sensible to wear a face mask to protect those at high risk.
It is difficult to say when that is likely to be. But you should continue to avoid physical contact with people who don’t live in the same household as you. That means we will have to live with these restrictions for a while yet. That way we can protect all those we care about.
You can use public transport as long as hygiene and social distancing rules can be observed. You should avoid using public transport at peak times if you can. If that’s not possible, you should follow the precautionary measures put in place by the service operator.
The FOPH still recommends that people at especially high risk to avoid using public transport if at all possible.
Yes. You should wash your hands as soon as you can and as regularly as possible. If you can’t wash your hands, use a hand sanitiser. You should also try not touch your face at all.
Using cash doesn’t mean that you’re at a higher risk of becoming infected as long as you follow the hygiene rules. Some business sectors recommend paying by card.
No, gloves do not offer sufficient protection against infection with the new coronavirus as the virus is not transmitted through skin but enters the system through your body’s mucous membranes (mouth, nose, eyes). The virus can be transmitted, for example, if infectious droplets on gloves come into contact with mucous membranes.
Gloves have disadvantages as:
- They can’t generally be washed,
- The virus can survive for longer on plastic than on skin,
- You have to use a new pair after each contact.
That is why we don’t recommend wearing gloves in public. The rules on hygiene and social distancing are important. Washing your hands regularly is the most effective protection against the coronavirus.
No, the pneumococcal vaccination cannot prevent complicated or serious cases of COVID-19. Serious cases occur due to an inflammation of the lungs, which can be triggered by the virus. The pneumococcal vaccination however protects against infection caused by pneumococcal bacteria. This does not occur more frequently in connection with COVID-19.
Vaccinate yourself as planned against pneumococcal diseases.
Wearing masks in public
Should everyone wear a face mask in public?
What type of mask should I wear if I have to wear one?
Can I protect myself or others by using a homemade mask?
Is the wearing of face masks one of the precautionary measures to be implemented by businesses?
Do I have to wear a mask when travelling by train, bus or tram?
Should I wear a mask in public – on the street or at the station – if it’s difficult to stay 2-metres apart from others?
Can I wear the same mask more than once? For example, if I only take it off briefly and then put it back on?
Do I have to wash my hands before and after using a mask?
How should I dispose of my mask? And how can I avoid coming into contact with used masks?
Can all types of mask be washed and reused?
How long can I wear a mask for?
How do I know if my homemade mask will protect me from infection?
Do people considered to be at especially high risk have to wear a mask?
Are purchases of masks covered by my health insurance?
Do I have to wear a mask when visiting a shop?
Can customers be required to wear a face mask? Can I force service providers to supply me with a face mask?
Will I have to take my own mask to the hairdressers or beauty salon, or will I be provided with one?
Do I have to wear a mask when out running or cycling?
Where can I buy face masks and when will they be available?
How is the quality of commercially available masks checked?
Is there anything I have to be especially aware of if I have a beard?
Do children also need to wear masks?
Are we likely to be required to wear masks in the near future?
No. We don’t recommend that healthy people wear face masks in public. They don’t provide adequate protection against contracting the coronavirus.
However, a mask can prevent someone who is already infected from infecting others.
Still applicable: Follow the rules on hygiene and social distancing.
In everyday situations you can wear face masks (surgical masks) or industrially produced masks made of fabric. These primarily help to protect other people from infection, but not yourself.
When choosing a fabric mask, you should make sure it meets the recommended standard of the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force.
Medical staff working in high-risk situations use respiratory protection masks (FFP2, FFP3). Some of these types of mask have a valve to make it easier to breathe out. These masks should not be used by people who are infected, regardless of whether they are experiencing symptoms of illness, as they do not filter the air you breathe out and so contribute to the spread of the virus.
You can find further information on masks in the fact sheet published by Swissmedic.
No, such masks provide no protection, which is why we don’t recommend using them.
In order to better protect customers and staff, the FOPH calls for the use of face masks if it forms part of the precautionary measures introduced by particular business sectors. Masks, when worn correctly and used in conjunction with other hygiene measures, can help to reduce the risk of infection.
You do not have to wear a mask if the public transport service you are using has a low occupancy level. However, if you are traveling at peak times – or if you are unable to keep a distance of 2 metres from other passengers –you are strongly recommended to do so. It is even better if you can avoid travelling at peak times altogether.
SBB and Postauto have drawn up sets of precautionary measures for the entire sector. You can obtain further information from the Federal Office of Public Transport or from the transport operator.
Be considerate of other passengers. And be sure to:
- leave sufficient space at bus stops, ticket counters and machines
- spread out evenly
- leave space for people to get out
You are unlikely to become infected just by passing someone on the street. We therefore don’t recommend that healthy people wear face masks in public. But of course you are free to wear a mask if it makes you feel more at ease.
No, you can only use a face mask safely once. If you have worn the mask, the surface may potentially be contaminated. That’s why you can’t use it again. As soon as you take off the mask, you need to dispose of it in a waste bin.
Fabric masks are washable and can therefore be used more than once.
Yes, you have to wash your hands with soap and water or disinfect them before and after using a mask. You should also wash your hands if you happen to touch the mask while wearing it.
Please be careful not to touch the mask while you are wearing it.
Remove the mask by taking hold of the straps behind your ears and uncovering your mouth and nose. Keep the mask away from your face and your clothes. Dispose of it in the bin.
No, surgical masks cannot be washed. Only fabric masks can be washed repeatedly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
You can wear a mask for up to eight hours.
Homemade masks provide no protection from infection and may even increase the risk.
People at especially high risk should continue to avoid coming into contact with others.
If you are at especially high risk and unable to avoid coming into contact with others, you can wear a mask if it makes you feel more at ease. However, you should be aware that wearing a mask can lull you into a false sense of security. That is why you should strictly follow the rules on hygiene and social distancing.
No.
In a shop you should be able to keep your distance, so there’s no need to wear a mask.
If one of the precautionary measures put in place involves wearing masks, businesses and shops can ask their customers to wear a mask. Should a customer refuse to do so, staff may refuse to serve them.
As a customer you are not entitled to be provided with a mask..
The situation may vary depending on the sector. Enquire before going.
No, there is no need to wear a mask when out running or cycling. The risk of becoming infected through a person’s breath is not known. If you go running with a partner, try to run alongside one another or one behind the other but in a staggered manner.
Major distributors are required to buy masks on the international market. As of next week, the federal government will be supplying leading retailers with a million masks a day for the next two weeks to assure the supply of masks.
Manufacturers and importers are responsible for ensuring that masks meet the required quality standards.
No. What’s important when it comes to wearing a face mask – whether surgical or fabric – is not whether you have a beard, but ensuring that your nose and mouth are properly covered, and that you don’t touch the mask while wearing it.
We are not currently recommending that children wear masks as they are not considered to be one of the main infection groups.
A further factor is that it is often difficult to get children to wear a mask correctly.
The government is not currently planning to make the wearing of masks mandatory.
Funeral arrangements
Can I get infected if I come into contact with a person who has just died as a result of coronavirus?
Are there any restrictions on funeral arrangements for people who have died as a result of coronavirus?
Deceased persons do not transmit the new coronavirus. However, infectious fluids may still be present on the body, so it is important to be careful when handling it. When preparing the body for laying out and burial, funeral directors must observe our recommendations (see PDF below).
A body may be laid out in an open coffin. Family members who would like to say goodbye to the deceased person are not permitted to touch the body. Funeral directors must take appropriate measures, such as setting up barriers or laying out the body behind glass.
COVID-19: Information and recommendations on funeral arrangements:
German (PDF, 40 kB, 28.04.2020)
French (PDF, 136 kB, 28.04.2020)
Italian (PDF, 134 kB, 28.04.2020)
Bodies may be buried or cremated. They may also be embalmed if the relevant guidelines are followed.
The number of people permitted to attend a funeral is no longer limited to close family members. However, there should be only one person per square metre and the rules on hygiene and social distancing must be observed.
An appropriate set of precautionary measures must be in place for the premises. Responsibility for this rests with the person who runs the premises. The set of measures must be based on the model produced by the FOPH/SECO (in German, French and Italian).
Clearing out a home after a death
A person who was self-isolating at home because they had symptoms of a respiratory disease has died. What do I need to be aware of when cleaning the person’s home?
The risk of infection with the new coronavirus through surfaces diminishes over time. If possible, wait 72 hours before starting to clean up. If you are clearing out the home there are a number of points to be aware of:
Protective material: Wear disposable or washing up gloves and a protective apron when cleaning.
Objects visibly contaminated with bodily fluids: first clean these with soap and water and then with a commercially available disinfectant (e.g. diluted bleach). If it is not possible to clean the object by washing it, it should be disposed of.
Laundry: Do not shake out dirty laundry. Wash it according to the care instructions. It can be washed together with other laundry.
Disposal: Dispose of the protective material and cleaning materials in a plastic bin bag and place them in the regular household waste.
Detailed instructions can be found in this fact sheet:
Workplace
Who is devising the precautionary measures and who will check compliance with them?
Which healthcare institutions are now accessible?
Can I start going into work again? Who decides whether you can still work from home?
The precautionary measures have been devised by the sectors concerned, according to a federal government model based on principles drawn up by the FOPH and SECO for protecting public health and workers. The requirements are set out on the SECO website (in German, French or Italian). It is not the state that is primarily responsible for implementing the precautionary measures, but the businesses concerned: the federal government and the cantons will provide support, advice and supervision to individual businesses.
The aim of the precautionary measures is to ensure that businesses can observe social distancing and hygiene measures.
Since 27 April, all healthcare institutions have been able to carry out all types of procedure. Details can be found under Measures, ordinance and explanations.
The cantons are responsible for ensuring there is sufficient capacity to treat patients suffering from COVID-19. The cantons therefore now have the power to restrict the number of non-urgent treatments. Further information can be found under the heading Healthcare provision on the page about Measures, ordinance and explanations.
The Federal Council still recommends that you work from home if you can. It will decide on whether to lift this recommendation at the appropriate time. Ultimately, however, it is the employer who decides whether staff can work from home.
Easing the measures
How many people can gather?
Can I go to a restaurant with the whole family?
Is gathering signatures for petitions permitted?
How is the Federal Council going to decide which measures are relaxed first?”
What are the Federal Council’s aims in easing the measures?
The Federal Council is easing the measures in stages. Why is that?
How will the Federal Council monitor the impact of easing the measures?
My brother lives in an old people’s home. Can I visit him?
Am I allowed to visit someone in hospital?
Can I think about planning a summer holiday abroad?
Can I visit relatives living abroad?
A maximum of 30 people can gather in public spaces, footpaths and in parks. If you are in such a gathering, continue to keep a distance of 2 metres to other people and follow the rules on hygiene and social distancing. The social distancing rule does not apply to families and people sharing accommodation.
If there are more than 30 people in the gathering, the police can fine each person in the group.
From 6 June it will be possible to hold public and private events for up to 300 people. This includes family events, fairs and exhibitions, concerts, theatrical performances, films, and political and civil demonstrations. Depending on the form of the event it will be necessary to put precautionary measures in place or keep an attendance list. If you attend such an event, also continue to keep a distance of 2 metres to other people and follow the rules on hygiene and social distancing.
That depends on how you define the term family. Generally speaking, groups of up to four can go out for a meal, as well as parents with more than two children (or patchwork families), as long as they all live in the same household.
You must be seated and the distance between groups must be at least two metres if there are no partitions.
Restaurants have to follow the precautionary measures plan produced by the industry association Gastrosuisse and observe hygiene and social distancing rules.
From 1 June it will again be permitted to gather signatures for petitions in public places, provided the relevant precautionary measures are in place.
Three main factors are decisive:
- How high is the risk that there will be more infections? How many people may be exposed to a higher risk of infection?
- How high is the risk that serious illness or deaths will result?
- How high is the chance that infections and serious illness will be avoided? Can precautionary measures be introduced and will they be complied with?
Other factors include:
- Levels of public acceptance for the decisions and their economic benefits
- The planning involved in easing the measures: how much time is needed to organise the measures, e.g. to order products that are needed or to introduce precautionary measures.
The Federal Council’s main aim has always been to protect the population and in particular the older generation and persons at high risk. It has also sought to slow the further spread of the illness, and thus protect the health service from being overwhelmed, so that sufficient capacity is available for patients that need hospital care.
The Federal Council wants to ensure that the population continues to receive the healthcare it requires and that the economic damage caused by the pandemic is kept to a minimum.
The measures can only be eased if the number of cases continues to fall. The step-by-step easing of measures must take account of the impact it will have on public health, the national economy and society. Protecting the population against infection from the coronavirus remains the main objective.
Only when it is certain that there is no worsening of the situation after measures are eased, i.e. there has been no rise in the number of new infections or hospital admissions, can the Federal Council consider a further step.
By proceeding step-by-step, the Federal Council can observe the impact and to go back one step if the number of infections increases again.
At the moment it is hard to predict what impact easing the measures will have on the course of the epidemic. As a result, the Federal Council will be monitoring the situation very carefully, particularly the number of new hospital admissions for Covid-19.
Safety for the population must be guaranteed. The Federal Council also wants to avoid any renewed rise in the infection rate. For this reason, the various sectors of the economy are planning to introduce specific precautionary measures.
However, the population must continue to comply strictly with current hygiene and social distancing rules.
The cantons can issue rules on visits to old people’s and nursing homes, as well as institutions for people with disabilities. Visits to homes and outings outside the institutions should, however, be possible in principle as long as hygiene and social distancing rules are strictly followed. We recommend that homes take precautions to strictly adhere to the rules on hygiene and social distancing (for example: only allowing healthy visitors, limiting the number of visitors and visiting hours, and installing transparent barriers). Ask what rules apply at your brother’s home.
Further information on old people’s and nursing homes and at institutions for people with disabilities can be found in the relevant fact sheet (PDF, 215 kB, 11.05.2020).
Visits to hospitals and care homes are allowed again in principle. Read more under ‘People at especially high risk’.
It’s difficult to make a prediction at the present time. But as things stand, the indications are that borders will not be open to tourists this summer.
But there is nothing stopping you from spending your holiday here in Switzerland, unless coronavirus infections rise again.
No. Until the borders reopen, it’s not possible to visit relatives abroad. Exceptions are possible in certain specific cases.
SwissCovid App
Children and school
What is going to change for children when classroom teaching resumes on 11 May?
What hygiene and social distancing rules apply in compulsory schools?
Why is classroom teaching being allowed to resume in primary and lower secondary schools?
Is it important to air school classrooms regularly?
Do parents have to send their children back to school?
Will sports lessons resume too?
What happens if a child at a primary or lower secondary school becomes infected with coronavirus? Do all the children in the class have to quarantine themselves? And what about the after-school centre that they also attend?
A teacher has become infected with coronavirus. Does the entire class now have to go into quarantine?
I am a mother/father and am in the at risk category. Can I still send my child to school?
Can children be looked after outside school again?
Childcare offerings and leisure: What hygiene and social distancing rules do children have to follow?
Can grandparents look after their grandchildren again after 11 May?
Can children spend time with their grandparents? What precautionary measures should be taken?
What risks and symptoms of illness do children have if they become infected with the new coronavirus?
Can children transmit the new coronavirus?
My child has an underlying medical condition. Are they at greater risk of becoming seriously ill if they become infected with the new coronavirus?
My otherwise healthy child is showing symptoms of illness that could indicate an infection with the coronavirus. Or my child has been in close contact with someone who has become infected with the coronavirus. What should I do?
My child has contracted the new coronavirus. Is there a risk that they will develop a clinical picture resembling Kawasaki disease?
According to the vaccination plan, my child is due for a vaccination. Should I go ahead with it?
The rules on hygiene and social distancing apply to schools. Teachers will practise the rules with the children.
Exceptions for schools:
- Gatherings of up to 30 people in public spaces: This upper limit does not apply on school grounds or in the classroom.
- At school children aren’t always able to keep a distance of 2 metres from one another. Younger children in particular should be able to move around as normally as possible within the classroom and in the playground.
Adults, however, should keep a distance of 2 metres wherever possible.
There is a film explaining to children how they can protect themselves and reminding them of the rules on handwashing and greeting each other.
Children are entitled to receive an education. This can best be provided in the classroom. Children also need social interaction that involves their classmates. That is why primary and lower secondary schools will reopen from 11 May on condition that have drawn up a set of precautionary measures that all teaching staff and schoolchildren can observe.
Yes. Air quality in the classroom has a big influence on the health and performance of pupils and teachers alike.
We therefore recommend that classrooms be aired frequently and thoroughly. All windows should be opened between lessons and during break time. When the heating is not running, they can be left open as long as desired.
You can find further information and tips at www.schulen-lueften.ch (website in German, French and Italian)
Yes. The obligation to send a child to school or provide them with schooling was never lifted. Once classroom teaching is allowed to resume, parents have a duty to allow their children to attend school.
Bei Kindern gibt es gemäss aktuellem Wissen keinen Gesundheitszustand, mit dem sie bei einer Coronavirus-Infektion für einen schweren Krankheitsverlauf gefährdet wären. Leidet ein Kind an einer chronischen Krankheit (Diabetes, Asthma usw.), dann müssen die Eltern dies mit der Kinderärztin oder dem Kinderarzt besprechen.
For children of parents considered to be at especially high risk, schools may seek solutions on a case-by-case basis.
As soon as schools reopen, sports lessons will also resume with appropriate precautionary measures.
No, children in the same class and their teacher would not normally have to quarantine themselves. The same is true of childcare facilities such as crèches and after-school centres.
However, if there are further coronavirus cases in the same class or childcare group, the cantonal authorities could order a quarantine. The authorities assess each situation individually before deciding to order a quarantine.
People living in the same household as the infected child have to quarantine themselves. The cantonal authorities also would also examine all of the child’s other close contacts with young people and adults and decide whether they too needed to be asked to go into quarantine.
The cantonal authorities would assess each case individually before deciding whether or not the children in the class have to go into quarantine.
Children who share a home with someone at especially high risk should be allowed to go to school. Depending on the situation at home, you may have to work with the school find an individual solution.
Yes. When schools resume classroom teaching reopen on 11 May, childcare facilities will also reopen or resume normal operation. That applies to public (day-care centres for pre-school and school-age children) and private offerings (nurseries, playgroups, etc.).
Childcare institutions must observe hygiene and social distancing rules. The same basic principles apply as for schools. The precautionary measures (in German, French and Italian) must be adapted to the childcare facilities and meet special conditions (e.g., regarding mealtimes).
The rules on hygiene and social distancing (washing their hands, keeping their distance, meeting in groups of no more than 5) also apply to children if they have music lessons or go to the playground.
Rooms used for after-school childcare activities should be aired frequently and thoroughly. All windows should be opened every hour and during break time. When the heating is not running, they can be left open as long as desired.
Grandparents over the age of 65 or with an underlying medical condition should not look after their grandchildren. With the gradual easing of restrictions, the coronavirus is likely to circulate again and more people are likely to become infected and transmit the virus. Grandparents are considered to be a risk group and should protect themselves.
Children should not visit grandparents over the age of 65 or with an underlying medical condition for long periods of time, but a short visit with a hug is allowed. It’s good for the mental wellbeing of all concerned.
Children rarely contract the new coronavirus, and when they do, they usually only display mild symptoms. They are not allowed to visit their grandparents during this time and have to stay at home. They should also avoid visiting if a close friend or family member has had contact with someone who is infected.
The main problem when healthy grandchildren visit their grandparents is the parents or other accompanying adults. They are the ones who could infect the grandparents during a lengthy visit.
Studies show that children very rarely contract the new coronavirus.
Symptoms of illness are usually the same as in adults, but they are usually mild. And some children don’t display any symptoms. That means that children who contract the coronavirus are far loess seriously ill than adults or the elderly. Serious cases are therefore rare, but cannot be entirely excluded.
Children do not play a significant role in transmitting the new coronavirus. Children rarely contract the new coronavirus. When they do fall ill, they usually only display mild symptoms or even none at all. They are also less likely to transmit the virus.
Studies show that children are more likely to be infected by adults than the other way round. In families, adults usually fall ill before children.
According to current medical research and experience, children are not considered to be an at risk group. Children with underlying medical conditions must continue to observe the appropriate protective measures that applied for their condition prior to the coronavirus outbreak. However, it is important that you discuss the situation with you r paediatrician if you have any questions.
Contact your paediatrician immediately if symptoms occur.
If your child is ill, they must stay at home as usual. If they display symptoms of a coronavirus infection, you should get them tested for the coronavirus. They should not have any further contact with other children. And contact with adults should be limited to those looking after the child. The rules on isolation also apply to children.
If there are children living in the same household as someone who has contracted the coronavirus then they have to quarantine.
Depending on the age of your child and the situation at home, it is important to find an appropriate solution.
Important:
Your child could be suffering from a serious illness unrelated to the new coronavirus. If your child’s symptoms are getting worse or if you are extremely concerned, don’t wait: Call your paediatrician or a children’s hospital.
Even in the current situation, you should still have your child vaccinated in accordance with the Swiss vaccination recommendations. Make sure you follow the rules on hygiene and social distancing. Call your paediatrician for advice.
Kawasaki disease is an inflammation of the blood vessels, which can occur in young children in very rare cases. Symptoms include fever and a rash. Paediatricians are familiar with the clinical picture and can treat the disease with medication. It is generally possible that the new coronavirus, along with other viruses, could be a trigger for Kawasaki disease. However, it is not possible to say so for certain due to the lack of sufficient data.
Yes, you or your child should have yourselves vaccinated as planned and recommended. Call your doctor to make an appointment. Doctors have taken precautions to protect their patients from becoming infected with the new coronavirus. You and your child can therefore get yourselves vaccinated without having to worry about becoming infected.
However, when you go to your appointment:
- Make sure you don’t have signs of a temperature or acute respiratory infection
- Don’t bring siblings with you
- Follow the rules on hygiene and social distancing
Sport
Can sports training sessions be held?
Who needs to have a set of precautionary measures in place?
Will I be able to head to the stadium again to support my football team?
Yes, but only if precautionary measures are in place for the sport in question. If such measures are in place, training can take place. Together with the FOSPO we have worked with the cantons and Swiss Olympic to draw up an orientation framework. On this basis the sports associations have formulated their owns sets of precautionary measures. You will find these and the conditions under which sportspeople can train on the Swiss Olympics website (in German or French).
Anyone offering sports activities must have a set of precautionary measures in place. Organised sports activities may only be offered if the proposed set of measures has been checked for plausibility.
All sports facility operators must also have a set of precautionary measures in place if they wish to reopen. They can draw on the recommendations of Swiss Association of Sports Services ASSA. The cantonal authorities are responsible for monitoring compliance and may also order the closure of sports facilities in the event of a failure to comply.
No. Football matches are expected to be allowed to take place from 8 June, but they will be played behind closed doors. Large-scale events are to remain prohibited until the end of August.
Travel and tourism
What should you bear in mind if travelling?
Affected areas: why is reference no longer being made to ‘affected areas’?
You can find information about this on the page Recommendations for travellers
There is now a risk of becoming infected with new coronavirus in almost all parts of the world. As of 9 March we will therefore no longer be referring to ‘affected areas’.
The new coronavirus and COVID-19 disease
What is the new coronavirus? What is SARS-CoV-2, and what is COVID-19?
Does smoking increase the risk of developing a serious case of COVID-19 and even of dying from the disease?
Is someone who is overweight at greater risk of developing a serious case of COVID-19?
The new coronavirus was discovered in China at the end of 2019 on the basis of an extraordinary incidence of pneumonia in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. The virus, which was named SARS-CoV-2, belongs to the same family as the pathogens responsible for Middle East respiratory syndrome» MERS and severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS.
On 11 February 2020 the WHO gave the disease caused by the new coronavirus an official name: COVID-19, short for coronavirus disease 2019.
The information currently available suggests that it was animals that transmitted the virus to humans and that it is now spreading from person to person. It probably originated in a fish and animal market in the city of Wuhan which has since been closed by the Chinese authorities.
Yes, smokers are at significantly higher risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 – or even of dying from it.
Smoking weakens the immune system in general. It can therefore leave you more susceptible to infection with the new coronavirus.
We therefore strongly recommend you stop smoking. You can significantly boost your chances of kicking the habit successfully if you seek help (see below).
- National Stop Smoking Platform: www.stopsmoking.ch (in German, French, Italian)
- Stop smoking helpline: 0848 000 181 (8 centimes /min., operated by Swiss Cancer League)
- smokefree – anti-smoking campaign: www.smokefree.ch
- Information on protection from passive smoking: www.lungenliga.ch (in German, French, Italian)
Nicotine replacement products can help you to stop smoking by reducing withdrawal symptoms. If you are unable or unwilling to stop smoking, these products can at least help you to cut back.
Try to protect other household members from the effects of passive smoking, particularly children. Always smoke outside, for example.
It depends how overweight the person is. Studies show that people with class III obesity (morbid, BMI of 40 or over) are at particularly high risk. If that person becomes infected with coronavirus, they can develop a serious case of the disease regardless of other underlying medical conditions. For that reason, they are considered to be at especially high risk.
Further information and recommendations can be found under 'People at especially high risk'.
FAQs to other offices and departements
- State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO: Short-time working compensation
- State Secretariat for Migration SEM: refusal of entry, free movement of persons and visa ban
- Federal Office for National Economic Supply FONES: national supply
- Swiss Armed forces: basics, mobilisation, other tasks, safety measures, services and training, coordinated ambulance service, army pharmacy
- Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs : handling of animals and food
- Federal Office for Agriculture: FAQ for agriculture
Last modification 30.05.2020
Contact
Due to the extraordinary situation we are unable to respond in writing to enquiries.
Please refer instead to our webpages, which are continuously updated.
Under Contacts and links you will find contact information for the FOPH, other federal agencies and the cantons.
