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What do you think of the Covid-19 certificate required for indoor activities such as restaurant visits in Switzerland?

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I adapt stories into Japanese and am responsible for the weekly "Press Review" from Switzerland in Japanese. I'm especially interested in Swiss politics, economics and finance. I worked at the Japanese media organisation Nikkei for 8 years where I was responsible for covering ministers, the Bank of Japan and financial markets. I have been working for SWI swissinfo.ch since 2016.

As of September 13, 2021, people in Switzerland are required to show a Covid certificate to access indoor spaces like restaurants, bars and museums. 

From the article Swiss government limits access to restaurants to Covid certificate holders

That means, if you want to visit a restaurant, for example, you have the following options:

  • Get vaccinated for free and obtain the certificate after your second dose
  • Get tested for a fee and obtain the certificate with a negative result
  • Choose the terrace – you are not required to have a certificate for outdoor seating
  • Give up eating in a restaurant

Are you a Swiss living abroad, or someone visiting Switzerland? What are your experiences with the certificate?

Let us know in the comments below!

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

Charlie
Charlie

It is in everybody’s interest to be vaccinated. We had restrictions in visiting age care facilities and hospitals this is just about over by now but your still required to wear mask in this two facilities.
This is to take care of our sick and frail.

Borca D.C.
Borca D.C.
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.

Discrimination is a crime.
Compulsion to health care treatment (whether experimental or not) is a crime.
Restriction of liberty is a crime.
The health of the individual is not expendable for public health.
Either you get vaccinated or you don't work, or you can't do, or you can't go etc... is a crime of extortion.
The Nuremberg trial has already existed. I wish a Nuremberg 2.
The law must be equal for all, in law and duty, but without violating human rights and international treaties to protect them.

La discriminazione è un reato.
L'obbligo a un trattamento sanitario (sperimentale o meno che sia) è un reato.
La limitazione della libertà è un reato.
La salute del singolo non è sacrificabile per la salute pubblica.
O ti vaccini o non lavori, o non puoi fare, o non puoi andare etc... è reato di estorsione.
E' già esistito il processo di Norimberga. Auspico una Norimberga 2.
La legge dev'essere uguale per tutti, nel diritto e nel dovere, ma senza violare i diritti umani e i relativi trattati internazionali a loro tutela.

Francesco@magistra.org
Francesco@magistra.org
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.

I am furious about the decision to shorten the validity of the green pass. I got vaccinated after the blackmail of the federal council that would not let me live my life anymore, with the promise to leave me quiet for 12 months and now one more time they change the cards on the table by cutting 3 months. What do they think? That I'm going to get a booster for their pretty face? No way, never again a vaccine on the advice of these people.

Sono furioso della decisione di abbreviare la validitá del green pass. mi ero vaccinato in seguito al ricatto del consiglio federale che non mi lasciava piú vivere la mia vita, con la promessa di lasciarmi tranquillo per 12 mesi e adesso una voltá in piú cambiano le carte in tavola tagliando 3 mesi. Cosa credono ? che vada a farmi un booster per la loro bella faccia? non se ne parla, mai piú un vaccino dietro consiglio di questa gente.

Waltertavecchio
Waltertavecchio
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.

I am willing to give up in spite of myself, I don't believe in the Covid vaccines they are experimenting with on our skin or even the swabs.
I would also like to know how many deaths from pneumonia or similar diseases were in 2018, 2019 compared to 2020, 2021.

Sono disposto a a rinunciare mio malgrado, nn credo ai vaccini Covid che stanno sperimentando sulla ns pelle e neppur ai tamponi.
Vorrei sapere inoltre quanto erano i morti per polmonite o simili malattie nel 2018, 2019 rispetto al 2020, 2021.

乳酸菌
乳酸菌
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.
@Waltertavecchio

I hope that governments will do their jobs to improve the lives and happiness of their taxpaying and working citizens.

各国政府が税金を払って働いている国民の生活の向上や幸せの為に仕事をしてくれる事を願います。

kenma2
kenma2
The following contribution has been automatically translated from JA.

Yeah.
There are people who don't want to hit.
But there are people who can't.
Eating out, going to the movies.
I'll just give up and figure something else out.
I think we should do what's best for us.
I think.
It's a complicated world
It'll all come undone.

そうですね
打ちたくない人いるけど
打てない人もいるので
外食も映画も
諦めて別の方法を考えます
最良の方法を考えたらいいのでは
と考えます
ややこしい世の中だけれども
いずれ解除される

Aka hoppy
Aka hoppy
The following contribution has been automatically translated from JA.

It may mean reducing the chance of non-vaccinated people becoming infected and reducing the burden on healthcare. However, if both vaccinated and unvaccinated people carry the virus, they can still infect others. Vaccinated people may have a higher risk of infecting others because they walk around without symptoms. There is no point in distinguishing between vaccinated and unvaccinated young people who rarely become seriously ill, such as at school. Where I live, the infection situation is not serious, so such a rule is nonsense and I am against it.

ワクチン非接種者が感染する機会を減らして医療の負担を減らすという意味はあるでしょう。しかしワクチン接種者も非接種者もウイルスを保有していれば人に感染させることには変わりはない。ワクチン接種者の方が無症状で出歩くためにかえって感染させるリスクは上がるかも知れない。学校など重症化することがほとんどない若者をワクチンの接種、非接種で区別する意味は全くない。自分の住んでいるところでは感染状況が深刻ではなく、このような規則はナンセンスであり反対をします。

oneglio.trubian
oneglio.trubian
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.

all the people who write on this post are doctors or virologists experts, in reality we are normal people who have no medical expertise.
So let's behave like responsible people protecting the health of the people around us.
first thing to have confidence in themselves, knowing that the rest comes naturally by itself

tutte le persone che scrivono su questo post sono medici o esperti virologhi, nella realtà siamo delle persone normali che non hanno alcuna competenza medica.
Pertanto comportiamoci come persone responsabili tutelando la salute delle persone che ci circondano.
prima cosa avere fiducia in se stessi, consapevoli che il resto vien da se per via naturale

Anonymous
Anonymous
The following contribution has been automatically translated from JA.

I'm starting a court battle against the policy of differentiating between vaccinations. In other words, an administrative lawsuit.

ワクチン接種で区別する政策に反対する法廷闘争を始めます。つまり行政訴訟です。

lovesmile
lovesmile
The following contribution has been automatically translated from JA.

From a general belief in the efficacy of vaccines, it is understandable that they would be useful in sparing people from infection, avoiding lockdowns, and gaining a little profit from these facilities. However, there is a lot of doubt when you consider whether the vaccine is really effective, and separating people with it seems odd. Why can we assert that the Corona vaccine is effective for one year? By the way, the vaccination period for cholera is 6 months. WHO also announced that we should not be overconfident in vaccines and that there is a 25% chance of being infected with corona even if you have taken the vaccine. Corona is changing and evolving rapidly. It is questionable whether the vaccine is really effective against it. What does it say about such an ambiguous vaccine that it divides people and generates hatred towards non-takers?

ワクチンの効果を信じる一般的な考えからすると、感染を免れ、ロックダウンを回避し、少しでもこれらの設備で利益を獲得するのに役に立つと考えるのは理解できます。しかし、ワクチンの効果が本当にあるのか、と考察すると疑わしい点が多く、それで人々を分離するのは、おかしいとも思えます。なぜコロナのワクチンは１年の効果があると断言できるのでしょうか。ちなみにコレラの予防接種期限は６ヶ月です。またWHOは、ワクチンを過信しないよう、またワクチンを摂取していても２５％の確率でコロナに感染すると発表しています。コロナはどんどん変化・進化しています。それに対し、果たしてワクチンは効果があるのか疑問を持ちます。そのような曖昧なワクチンが、人々を分断したり、非摂取者に対する憎悪を生んでいるのは、どう言ったものでしょうか。

Verbier_David
Verbier_David

This is very unfair - we all know that you can still catch the virus, become ill from it and pass it on EVEN though you have had the vaccine.

The fairest (and safest!) method would be to prove a recent negative test.

beppelosqualo
beppelosqualo
The following contribution has been automatically translated from RU.

A vaccine would be enough.
I don't understand how anyone could prefer to have their nose drilled several times a week...

Basterebbe fare un vaccino infatti
Non comprendo come si possa preferire farsi trapanare il naso più volte a settimana

TitaP
TitaP
The following contribution has been automatically translated from RU.
@beppelosqualo

Simple: because the nasal test I know doesn't kill me, the vaccine can no longer say that with the same certainty. They say the vaccine can cause infertility among other diseases. I'm young and childless, will I risk becoming infertile? Not. I'm young and disease-free, will I risk getting one? Non. I won't take something I don't trust, I won't take that risk! My boyfriend was infected this year in August, I have been living with him throughout the quarantine time that he reviews what to do, and so have I. We both did tests at the beginning and end of the quarantine. I was never infected. A contagious virus as they say, and I was not infected???. Very strange... And another thing: even with two doses of vaccine, you can be infected and infect others, and without symptoms you will never know because those who are vaccinated don't get tested. I trust an unvaccinated person much more who always has to test for everything, those yes, make sure they are not infecting anyone!

Semplice: perché il test nasale che conosco non mi uccide, il vaccino non può più dirlo con la stessa certezza. Dicono che il vaccino può causare infertilità tra le altre malattie. Sono giovane e senza figli, rischierò di diventare sterile? Non. Sono giovane e senza malattie, rischio di prenderne una? Non... Non prenderò qualcosa di cui non mi fido, non correrò questo rischio! Il mio ragazzo è stato contagiato quest'anno ad agosto, ho vissuto con lui durante tutto il tempo della quarantena che lui rivede cosa fare, e anche io. Entrambi abbiamo eseguito dei test all'inizio e alla fine della quarantena. Non sono mai stato contagiato. Un virus contagioso come si dice, e io non sono stato contagiato?? Molto strano... E un'altra cosa: anche con due dosi di vaccino, puoi essere contagiato e contagiare altri, e senza sintomi non lo saprai mai, perché chi è vaccinato non fa i test. Confido molto di più in una persona non vaccinata che deve sempre fare test per tutto, quelli sì, assicurati che non stiano contagiando nessuno!

beppelosqualo
beppelosqualo
The following contribution has been automatically translated from RU.
@TitaP

Please consider that rapid tests have an accuracy of 50-70%, so those who test negative can still be positive and infect.
It has already happened in many concerts where outbreaks have developed.
I wouldn't put much faith in these tests, which can still be useful and even vaccinated people should get them.

Try to get a serological test. Maybe you were not infected by your boyfriend because you have antibodies.

On fertility fears, if I were you I would ask a doctor or a vaccination center for information, and don't believe the "they say" on the internet.
This is in the BAG FAQ

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/haeufig-gestellte-fragen.html?faq-url=/covid/en/vaccination/does-covid-19-vaccination-affect-fertility

Per favore consideri che i test rapidi hanno una precisione del 50-70%, quindi chi risulta negativo può comunque essere positivo e contagiare.
È già successo in molti concerti nei quali si sono sviluppati focolai.
Non mi fiderei molto di questi test, che comunque possono essere utili ed anche i vaccinati dovrebbero farli.

Prova a farti un test sierologico. Forse non sei stata contagiata dal tuo ragazzo perché hai anticorpi.

Sulle paure legate alla fertilità, fossi in lei chiederei informazioni ad un dottore o ad un centro vaccinale, e non crederei ai "dicono" su internet .
Questo è nelle FAQ del BAG

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/haeufig-gestellte-fragen.html?faq-url=/covid/en/vaccination/does-covid-19-vaccination-affect-fertility

rhtp28
rhtp28
The following contribution has been automatically translated from RU.

Buffer lives,
Thousands of francs a year. I risk energy and sinusitis. Who wants to swab for life?

Tampone abita,
Migliai di franchi l’anno. Rischio di avere energia e sinusiti. Chi vuole tamponarsi a vita?

Fanol_21
Fanol_21

In my opinion, having a certificate for this, is unfair, cause we don't really know if we can trust these vaccines

beppelosqualo
beppelosqualo
@Fanol_21

Quindi lockdown?
No grazie preferisco il certificato

Tobia
Tobia
@Fanol_21

Se ci pensi però comunque se hai tutte le dosi non rischi di morire o la terapia intensiva, o almeno, hai poche possibilità, quindi il vaccino è molto utile, ti basta guardare il tasso di mortalità, con questo dico che secondo me serve.

EmilyAlp
EmilyAlp

Short answer: it's brilliant and I am 100 percent for it. Here's the long answer:

The arguments against the vaccine are fear of what it can do in your body (because you have limited understanding of the development process and the red tape that was cut in this acute situation) AND feeling really rebellious against society and craving relevance and a sense of "freedom" because you want a choice and youtube videos and homeopaths have told you it's bad for you so you choose no. (Plus belonging to a group that is full of passion about something because they are bored, lacking in any interest about data, and privileged.)

I read an argument that the vaccinated are afraid that the unvaccinated will come into the places without the pass. This is only a fraction of the truth if there's any there at all. In fact, I am not afraid. I am, instead, aware: aware of how a virus spreads; aware of last October without these mandates as everyone crowded in to restaurants and cafes and gyms and the numbers spiked; aware of the crowding in hospitals; aware of the lockdown of businesses that caused great stress on people.

This year, conspiracy theorists, quacks and everyone else likeminded or gullible are protesting in cities here against a vaccine and a pass system that has prevented that overcrowding and bed overcrowding (most people taking beds now are unvaccinated) and lockdowns. They are so ignorant that the numbers are down precisely because of the pass and the people who have been vaccinated. And yet they keep spinning dumb ideas and making a case for themselves as relevant and out on the street fighting for freedom. It's irresponsible, selfish and a gross display of privilege.

One question: what would you protesters say if the government had done nothing at the start of the pandemic, or during waves, let us all go down the rabbit hole like India did due to lack of facilities? Would you protest then? When you saw your friends and family get sick and there weren't enough beds and some people you knew died? Yes. You likely would. For government intervention and for medical care and vaccines. Or maybe for the same thing now just because you couldn't put two and two together (exact situation in the states). You'd protest, because that's what you are into.

RGE
RGE
The following contribution has been automatically translated from RU.

A person has had an illness caused by SARS CoV2 and has absolute medical contraindications to vaccination. How will this issue be handled?

Человек перенёс заболевание, вызванное вирусом , SARS CoV2, при этом имеет абсолютные медицинские противопоказания к вакцинации. Как будет решаться этот вопрос?

pier
pier
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.

the real positives are 70% vaccinated.

i dati a riguardo i positivi reali sono il 70% vaccinati

beppelosqualo
beppelosqualo
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.
@pier

Please provide a source to this statement.

Unfortunately, the ABG does not record the infections of the vaccinated and unvaccinated.

Per favore fornire una fonte a questa affermazione.

Purtroppo il BAG non registra le infezioni dei vaccinati e non vaccinati.

qwerty111111
qwerty111111

Hello, I am new to your forum but wanted to ask and share my experience so far of trying to get a Swiss covid 19 certficate as I am not Swiss but live in the Uk,
I have attempted to complete the application on line but keeps coming up with the same error message .e.g my email address is not verified even though the system does accept my email and sends me the code to enter,
Can any one help me on this?
Kind Regards Barry

RiaWard
RiaWard
@qwerty111111

Here is the link: https://covidcertificate-form.admin.ch/foreign
Pick 'I am just visiting Switzerland', 'request covid-19 certificate', the click 'fully vaccinated (I assume you are),
you then complete. When you input email, also click on field on the right of email for code. Code will be sent, input in application, then again click field on right. That should verify email. I got my pass within a couple of hours of sending form of. Let me know if that works. Good luck

Wingnut
Wingnut

For well over a year, the fear about Corona has been overblown. It is fostered by the media because fear, like violence, sells. It is fostered by the government because fear of the virus allows them to gather more power to themselves and this is the most common feature of governments. It isn't guaranteed to happen that way, but in this case it certainly is. Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but with few exceptions, this seems to be a global phenomena with this virus.
This mandate is wrong. If you want the vaccine, get the vaccine. If you need the vaccine, get the vaccine. Otherwise, live and let live. For those endorsing a mandate, this doesn't end here. Think back to "two weeks to flatten the curve". This is when we thought the virus was far more deadly than it really is. Now it is "2 Jabs (soon to be three, (then more?)) to rejoin society." , and this is with a far less deadly virus than we were lead to believe.
A two tier society is unjust, unwarranted and against the basic human rights we have built over centuries.
Wake up world. Continuing down this path will not end well. It never does.

xekeda3759@oemmeo.com
xekeda3759@oemmeo.com
@Wingnut

Just as wrong as saying someone has a right to your organs if you did not explicitly say otherwise.

Where will we get to next.. people having forced operations?

xekeda3759@oemmeo.com
xekeda3759@oemmeo.com

I'm vaccinated but my husband and our 2 newborns are not. We just stopped going to any kind of restaurants, fast food places, cinemas or pretty much anything else. We order our shopping online and that's about it.

My husband works at the american search engine company and they were told they will all have to be vaccinated to be allowed in the office and they cannot work remote anymore. We're preparing to sell our home in Zurich and we'll move to the country side close to his parents. I'll keep on working online in HR and he can find a new job that allows remote work. Either way, there is no reason to be in a big city anymore since the social life is completely dead. You get more social events with neighbors in the country side.

LoL
LoL
@xekeda3759@oemmeo.com

So true, our close friends and us used to go to bar for a friendly Friday drink every Wednesday, for a year now we always do it at home on a balcony, I don't even remember when it was last time we went to bar. 1st we don't like to ask who has vaccination and who doesn't because it is a heated topic in our company and gathering together at home does not bring problems as if trying to invite people over to restaurant. 9/10 celebrations now pass at home even though bars and restaurants are open (most of us have birthday in autumn) and frankly I don't see the reason to change and return to bars or restaurant on weekly bases, maybe like 1ce a month. For everything else delivery or cook at home, same with bars, we are enjoying same staff at home for lower price and we finally realised it thanks to covid and this rules. Lockdown at some point felt unbearable but with possibility now "open" to go to social places meh being home with friends is much easier and we personally became poorer due to covid . With this certificate they are helping people realise that you don't need bars or restaurants for afterword gathering or celebration, this stigma of sort that big events require fancy places is now looks rediculous to me. For my wedding last week we rent a chalet, cooked bunch of food and ordered from home cooks a bit more and spend wonderful time without paying a single CHF to restaurant or bar.... Same goes for sport centers, many of my friends got their equipment now at home for running and etc. Industry of services will change forever and artificially limiting clients and covering up the cost for them with tax money will not help as people get poorer and the social need of this places switched to whoever of your friends have a bigger living room, now it is an event hall, restaurant and bar which is visited with same joy as proper social places. I mean I believe much fewer restaurant , bar, sport centers will be needed and this certificate only covers up the reality for some business owners when the rebound of clients will not be met with the costs and government won't help anymore.

beppelosqualo
beppelosqualo
@xekeda3759@oemmeo.com

Spero suo marito ai vaccini presto.
Credo la mia ragazza mi avrebbe lasciato se avessi fatto una scelta del genere.

sakana
sakana
The following contribution has been automatically translated from JA.

I got vaccinated in September.
If the person I'm dining with is unvaccinated and can't get into the restaurant, I'll take them out if there's a take-out menu. I can`t sit on the terrace in some weather because I`m cold.
My child is a college student. He has had the new corona vaccine. I would like the proof of vaccination to be easy to carry.
Even after the vaccination, I will continue to take measures to prevent infection, such as washing hands and disinfecting them, wearing a non-woven mask, shortening the time spent in poorly ventilated areas, and avoiding crowded places.

※私は9月にワクチン接種しました。
いっしょに食事しようとした人がワクチン接種していなくて、レストランに入れないのであれば、テイクアウトメニューがあればテイクアウトします。私は寒がりなので、天候によってはテラス席にいられないのです。
※私の子どもは大学生です。彼は新型コロナワクチンを接種しました。接種証明については携帯しやすいものを希望しています。
※ワクチン接種後も、手洗いと手指消毒、不織布のマスクの着用、換気の悪い場所での滞在時間を短くする、人の密集しているところを避けるなどの感染予防対策は続けようと思っています。

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