Pandemic preparedness

Given the risk of a pandemic, the federal and cantonal authorities have planned measures for its prevention and response.

Pandemic preparedness of the Confederation

The National Pandemic Plan serves as a planning framework for preparing for and managing a pandemic in Switzerland. When necessary, the authorities support the procurement, distribution, and storage of medical supplies before and during a pandemic. In accordance with a decision by the Federal Council, responsibilities, funding, and procedures will be defined more precisely by the end of 2027. The Ordinance on the Crisis Organisation of the Federal Administration (OCOFA) regulates responsibilities during a pandemic.

International perspective: the WHO

Given the risk of a pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that all countries prepare for a pandemic on the basis of the International Health Regulations. These preparations are designed to protect the public as effectively as possible from the spread of diseases from country to country. The drafting of the WHO Pandemic Agreement is one of the key recommendations of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are important hygiene measures that everyone has to know to stay healthy

The most important information on this can be found in the section Protect yourself and others from respiratory infections. Much of the practical advice presented here should already be part of people’s day-to-day routine. Only by acting responsibly can we stay healthy or avoid infecting other people if we get sick. That way we can slow the spread of the pandemic.