As Switzerland’s lockdown measures continue to ease, the Swiss Government has announced that from June 15 the country will open its borders to travel from EU and EU Free Trade Association countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), plus the UK.
Swiss borders with Germany and Austria have been open since an agreement in mid-May that allowed residents to travel between countries.
The decision was announced on June 5 by the Swiss Federal Council, after a video conference between Schengen Area ministers. During the meeting, “numerous ministers expressed the desire to see a return to normality and advocated the lifting of European internal border controls as of 15 June”, according to a statement on the Federal Council’s website.
Up until June 15, travel from countries other than Germany and Austria is still only permitted in “exceptional circumstances”.
There’s no word as yet on when travel from countries other than those listed – and anywhere outside of Europe – may be possible. For example, the US Embassy in Switzerland notes on its website that “There is currently no date as of when Switzerland will lift the current entry restrictions for U.S. citizens.”
The borders announcement comes after a big easing of lockdown measures kicked-in earlier this month. From June 6, nightclubs, cinemas, swimming pools and campsites were allowed to reopen, sports training sessions resumed, and events and demonstrations of up to 300 people were allowed to take place again.
It’s important to note that safety measures are still in place across Switzerland. The Swiss Government is asking people to keep practicing social distancing, wear a mask “if you can’t keep your distance”, and continue to observe hygiene rules. Keep up-to-date with the latest safety information on the Federal Office of Public Health website.
Switzerland was also recently named as the safest country in the world for Covid-19 in a report by a tech-focused investment group.