Zurich:

As Switzerland eased restrictions related to COVID-19 from June 26, the government’s Federal Public Health Council has informed that people from countries with a variant of concern like India, who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19, will be allowed entry. without needing a negative test or quarantine, according to the ANI news agency.

However, for people arriving from a country with a variant of the virus of concern, they will be allowed entry as long as it is certain that the vaccination offers good protection. Those who have not been vaccinated or cured must present a negative PCR test or a rapid antigen test and quarantine themselves on entry, the Federal Council said.

This means that people who have been vaccinated or who have recovered do not have to test negative even when traveling from countries where the Delta variant is prevalent and do not have to quarantine themselves at home. ‘Entrance.

“The vaccines used in Switzerland are only slightly less effective against the Delta variant and therefore still offer a very high level of protection,” said the Council as reported by the ANI news agency.

The Swiss government has also announced that Covid certificates will be allowed as supporting documents for international travel and areas of application within the country.

In an FAQ, the Swiss Federal Council of Public Health said: “As of July 1, the federal government assumes that anyone who wants a Covid certificate will have received one. From this date, only Covid certificates will be authorized as supporting documents. for areas of application in Switzerland. This applies to the cases defined in the COVID-19 Special Situation Ordinance, for example events, cinemas, theaters and restaurants if they wish to restrict entry to people who have been vaccinated, tested negative or cured. “

“In international travel and as part of the quarantine of contacts, alternative supporting documents are always possible,” he added. Additionally, children can also receive a Covid test or recovery certificate and certificates for all family members can be stored in a single app, according to the Council, as reported by the ANI news agency.

A Covid certificate allows people to resume certain activities and serves as proof that an individual is either protected from the virus or is highly unlikely to be contagious.

According to the Federal Council’s line of action, everyday places, such as public transport, commerce, workplaces and training facilities, where the use of the Covid certificate is not provided for in the ordinance .

The settings, where the certificate will be a condition, include international passenger transport, major events and dance event nightclubs.

On June 23, the Federal Council decided to relax the conditions for entry into Switzerland from Saturday after a drop in new infections, according to the ANI news agency. People entering from the Schengen area will no longer be required to self-quarantine. It is now again possible for citizens from countries such as the United States, Albania or Serbia to enter Switzerland, the council said.

Meanwhile, in Switzerland, the requirements for working from home and wearing masks outdoors will be lifted and restaurants will again be allowed to accommodate as many people as they want. Large-scale events with COVID-19 certificates will be allowed without restrictions on capacity or number of people present.

“The number of cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continue to drop sharply. In addition, about half of the adult population will be fully immunized by the end of the month. However, caution remains in order, ”said the Federal Council.

Shops, leisure facilities and sports facilities will be able to make full use of their available capacity. Water parks could also reopen. However, a two-thirds capacity restriction will apply to events and locations where no Covid certificate is required.

The rule for events without a Covid certificate requirement states that up to 1,000 people can attend an event indoors or outdoors and up to two-thirds of the venue’s capacity can be used.

The limits for private events continue to apply, i.e. no more than 30 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.

(Except for the title, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)