Many Swiss dream of their vacation, but even with the best preparation, travel planning can become a confusion. Because the rules of the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) are constantly changing.
«Zigzag course drives travel agencies crazy»
This not only annoys travelers. The travel agencies are also at the limit. “The zigzag course drives travel agencies crazy,” writes the online magazine “Travel News” on its website.
The regulations relating to test controls upon entry into Switzerland cause confusion: According to the BAG, since February 8th, every person entering Switzerland must present a valid PCR test, which must not be older than 72 hours.
Nine days later it was said: Even simple antigen rapid tests would be sufficient upon entry. That means: The entry would have become a lot more relaxed. After all, the rapid antigen tests deliver the result within minutes, are cheaper and do not have to be evaluated by a laboratory in contrast to the much more complex PCR tests.
Now a PCR test is mandatory
But the BAG is stepping up: As of today, February 22nd, the simple antigen rapid tests, which must not be older than 24 hours, are sufficient when boarding in Switzerland. But: The PCR test must be presented at the border control in Switzerland.
The reason for the previous adjustment: The antigen rapid test regulation was intended to accommodate travelers on long journeys or when the PCR test result is not available quickly enough.
At the latest at the Swiss border, other rules apply
At the Swiss border, however, the following still applies: Here, only PCR tests that were carried out less than 72 hours ago are permitted. “If you cannot show a negative test result there, you must have yourself tested immediately after entering the country at your own expense,” the official says. The result must then be submitted later.
“The travel industry has slowly but surely participated in enough piourettes”, write the travel agency webook.ch on their Twitter channel. “Why do I need a PCR test when I enter the country?”
Quarantine remains
With all new test confusions, one is not spared the quarantine one way or another. Every traveler, whether by plane or otherwise, has to go into a ten-day quarantine after entry.
This can be shortened after seven days. Then both apply again: a PCR or rapid antigen test. It just has to be negative. With all this chaos, the question arises whether you want to do the stress or not. And the confusing entry regulations in the destination countries had not yet been discussed. Then I think it would be better to stay home.
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