Coronavirus: Switzerland extends border controls to all Schengen States
Bern, 25.03.2020 - At its meeting on 25 March, the Federal Council was informed by the FDJP that entry restrictions have been extended to all Schengen States. This measure will increase the protection given to the population against the coronavirus.
Last week, the Federal Council took the decision to impose restrictions on entry by land and by air from Italy, France, Germany, Austria and Spain, and from all non-Schengen States. Since midnight, these stricter entry requirements have also applied to flights from all remaining Schengen States with the exception of the Principality of Liechtenstein. The relevant authorities in the EU have been notified of the changes.
With the extension of the stricter entry requirements to cover flights from all Schengen States and the checks being made on these entry requirements as part of border controls at airports, all flights from abroad are now subject to the same entry checks.
Citizens of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, persons with a Swiss residence permit and persons who have to travel to Switzerland for work-related reasons or because of an emergency will continue to be allowed to enter the country. Travellers may continue to transit through Switzerland and movements of goods are still permitted.
These measures aim to protect the Swiss population even more effectively against infection with the coronavirus and to maintain capacities in the Swiss healthcare sector.
Under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, associated states are entitled to restrict the free movement of persons for reasons of public order, security and health. The extension of entry restrictions to all EU/EFTA member states takes account of the principle of equal treatment and is in line with the requirements of the COVID-19 Ordinance.
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