Corona and Democracy - Switzerland

Information on COVID-19 measures and democracy

• All public and private gatherings of more than 5 people have been banned.
• Border checks with Germany, France and Austria have been instituted, only Swiss residents are allowed to enter the country.

   16 April:

• The government announced a three-stage easing of restrictions starting 27 April, then 11 May and finally 8 June.

   15 May:

• Some of the travel restrictions with Germany and Austria have been lifted.

   27 May:

• Federal Council announced that the borders would be open again for Schengen travellers on 6 July.

6 June:

• Further restrictions have been eased

6 July:

• Remaining prohibitions relate to large-scale events attended by more than 1000 people

• Switzerland bans major public events to slow spread of virus
• Swiss government shuts down public life amid spreading coronavirus
• https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0416/1131999-switzerland-coronavirus/
• https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/covid-19-_border-restrictions-relaxed-for-cross-border-couples-/45763200
• https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/covid-19_what-s-happening-at-swiss-borders-and-airports-/45727184
• https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov.html
• https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/massnahmen-des-bundes.html

• The national voting day, originally planned for 17 May, has been postponed to an unspecified future date.

18 March:

• Municipal vote in Neuchâtel and Tinicio will not take place

17 May:

• The federal popular vote will not take place

• Virus forces delay of vote on EU free movement deal
• https://www.admin.ch/gov/fr/accueil/documentation/communiques.msg-id-78485.html
• https://www.ne.ch/medias/Pages/20200318-report-elections-communales-14-juin-2020.aspx
• https://www4.ti.ch/fileadmin/POTERI/CdS/pubblicazioni_straordinarie/20200318_DE_rinvio_elezioni_comunali_2020.pdf

• Concerns over privacy and use of data concerning the Covid-19 tracing app lead Swiss House of Representatives to approve a proposal urging the government to prepare a bill to ensure the app is defined under Swiss law.

• https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/covid-19_coronavirus-contact-tracing-app--friend-or-foe-/45746418

• 16 March: the Swiss Federal Council declared an "extraordinary situation" under the Federal Law of Epidemics. It allows the Federal Government to order all necessary measures for parts of or the entire country, including the right to overrule measures that were ordered by cantons and to deviate from all existing Federal laws.

• https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/insight/publications/2020/03/switzerland-declares-state-of-emergency-covid19

• https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/massnahmen-des-bundes.html

• How the virus puts the Swiss political system to test