Switzerland Drops Most Covid Restrictions

17th February 2022

Last modified on February 19th, 2022

People in Switzerland will no longer have to show a Covid certificate to enter bars, restaurants and other indoor venues. Ski resorts will continue to get back to normal, but masks remain needed in cable cars & gondolas. Border restrictions to enter Switzerland have been dropped.

The relaxation comes as levels of the omicron variant have not led to hospital becoming overwhelmed.

Switzerland had already relaxed testing for travellers arriving in the country for skiing and other activities.

Now it is going one step further and it will no longer be necessary to provide proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test or complete an entry form to enter the country.

There will be no further restrictions on the size of private gatherings in Switzerland.

Large events, including those in ski resorts, will no longer have to apply for authorisation.

Masks will no longer be mandatory in many settings, but they will remain compulsory until the end of March on public transport – this includes gondolas and cable cars.

“The mask remains compulsory inside gondolas and cable cars. So we thank you in advance for respecting this last measure in place,” said the resort of Verbier to its customers. Covid ski rules. Image © PlanetSKI

Covid ski rules. Image © PlanetSKI

The government has also kept in place a requirement for people who test positive for Covid-19 to isolate for five days.

“The epidemiological situation continues to develop positively,” the government said in a statement.

“Thanks to the high level of immunity in the population, it is unlikely that the healthcare system will be overloaded despite the continued high level of virus circulation.”

“This means that the conditions are in place for a rapid normalisation of social and economic life,” it added.

The PlanetSKI editor was skiing in the Swiss resort of Verbier last weekend:

Verbier: Just for One Day

Verbier, 4 Valleys, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI

Ski resorts have welcomed the move where measures have generally been followed by most skiers and snowboarders.

The authorities have generally had a light-touch approach.

The Swiss President, Ignazio Cassis, has tested positive for Covid-19, the government said on Thursday.

Mr Cassis has no symptoms and is in good health.

He has gone into isolation and will return to his office next week.

We do our very best at PlanetSKI to ensure the information provided here is as complete and up-to-date as possible. However, please be aware that we assume no liability in this respect. Information provided by PlanetSKI should be checked with the official information provided by the authorities. The situation regarding travel warnings and local rules changes quickly.