Switzerland announced on Thursday plans on how to gradually ease the restrictions. The three-stage plan imposed to suppress the novel virus outbreak, with some stores and city services allowed to reopen from April 27.
In ten days, Switzerland’s government is going to start reopening after the coronavirus outbreak. “We have been able to slow down the infections, the hospitals are not overcrowded, which is good news, and we can now foresee some relaxation,” the government said.
Officials in Switzerland had stopped short of imposing full confinement in emergency measures introduced last month to combat the new coronavirus, which has killed more than 1,000 people in the Alpine country. Commenting on the upcoming three-phase reopening plan will be gradually eased in three stages: on April 27, May 11 and finally on June 8, Bern said.
“We have been able to slow down the infections, the hospitals are not overcrowded, which is good news, and we can now foresee some relaxation,” Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga told a press conference in Bern.
In fact, the recent epidemiological developments and the recommendations of scientists allow the Swiss Federal Council to ease the restrictions. The government has decided “to relax measures to protect the population against the new coronavirus from April 27th.”
The idea of gradual re-opening is while some businesses will be allowed to open, others will be required or recommended to have staff wear masks. Firstly, from April 27, the Federal Council decided to relax the restrictions for activities that involve few direct contacts, that do not cause significant flows of people and for which it is easy to set up protection plans.
“The health of the Swiss population remains the top priority, in particular, that of the vulnerable,” the government statement said and added this is why flexibility is accompanied by protection plans.
In other words, the Federal Council also wants to minimise economic damage and reduce restrictions on fundamental rights as much as possible.
Switzerland’s reopening starts from April 27th
The Swiss government allowed reopening on April 27th retail and cosmetic shops. This includes hairdressers, tattoo parlours, massage salons, cosmetic and makeup salons, hardware stores, garden centres and flower shops.
Also, the medical centres, dentists and physiotherapists again will also be allowed to carry out general work which had been restricted by the COVID-19.
On May 11, compulsory schools and remaining shops/markets will be permitted to open. From June 8th, secondary schools, universities and vocational schools will be allowed to open. All the restrictions from libraries, museums, botanical gardens and zoos will be lifted as well at this time.
However, the Swiss government hasn’t yet announced its decision regarding the major gatherings like concerts and festivals. The final decision depends on the epidemiological situation in the Alpine country and will be made on May 27.
