New Covid rules from today

The new Covid rules announced on Friday come into force today.

The Federal Council is acting as the country faces an Omicron wave.

For any indoor events where masks can be worn, the requirement will be at least the 2G rules – which means proof of vaccination or recovered will have to be shown. A negative test alone will not be sufficient. 

If masks can’t be worn, such as nightclubs, swimming pools, intensive sports and – importantly, brass band concerts – then the rules are 2G plus. That means being vaccinated within the last 4 months or having a negative test. 

The government is making a distinction between restaurants and bars. To sit down and have a meal, the rules are 2G. To go to a bar to have a drink, then the rules are 2G plus. 

From today, you should be working from home if possible. The government says this is a ‘requirement’ – not simply a recommendation. 
If working from home is not an option – then masks need to be worn of there is more than one person in the room. 

With Christmas coming up – there are also limits on private gatherings. If everyone is vaccinated, then there can be 30 meeting, but if only one of those is unvaccinated, then that limit drops to 10. 

 

What do the G rules surrounding Covid mean?

The short-cut terms are very common in German speaking countries. 

The G stands for geimpft, genesen, getested. That means vaccinated, recovered, tested. 

3G means who have to show you’re either vaccinated, or have recovered or have a negative test.

2G (geimpft, genesen) means a negative test is not acceptable. 

2G + (plus) means the vaccination has to have been within the last four months (boosters included) or a negative test is required. 

The 1G rule means only those vaccinated. Showing a recovered status or a negative test is not sufficient (not yet being implemented in Switzerland). 

 

More from Bitesize News

  • Citizenship remains one of the hardest on continent

    The Council of States has rejected a popular initiative that would have let foreigners apply for citizenship after just five years, closing the parliamentary door on the biggest attempt in years to loosen one of Europe's strictest naturalisation regimes

  • More gun crime in Annemasse

    Seven people are in French police custody after a shooting Monday evening at a drug-dealing spot in Ville-la-Grand, on the edge of Annemasse

  • Geneva land ownership change

    The canton of Geneva is set to become the sole owner of the land beneath Stade de Genève, buying out a parcel held by federal railways CFF for CHF 15.84 million

  • Agriculture warning after record breaking summer

    Farmers warn that another summer like this one would eat through their remaining reserves and force cuts to herds and crops

  • SNB interest rate stable

    The Swiss National Bank has kept its key interest rate at zero, sticking with a policy that has held since June 2025 even as oil-driven inflation ticks higher

  • Phone company going to court

    A Swisscom technician who spent 38 years at the company says he was fired for helping his 80-year-old neighbour cancel a subscription she never wanted

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play