covid-19 pandemic in switzerland covid-19 pandemic in switzerland the covid-19 pandemic in switzerland is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2). the virus was confirmed to have spread to switzerland on 25 february 2020 when the first case of covid-19 was confirmed following a covid-19 pandemic in italy. a 70-year-old man in the italian-speaking canton of ticino which borders italy, tested positive for sars-cov-2. the man had previously visited milan. afterwards, multiple cases related to the italy clusters were discovered in multiple cantons, including basel-city, zürich, and graubünden. multiple isolated cases not related to the italy clusters were also subsequently confirmed. covid-19 pandemic in switzerlandcases per 100,000 residents by cantonmap of cantons in switzerland by number of confirmed cases (as of 13 august 2020) 1-99 cases 100-499 cases 500-999 cases 1,000-2,499 cases 2,500+ casesdiseasecovid-19virus strainsars-cov-2locationswitzerlandfirst outbreakwuhan, hubei, china via milan, italyindex caselugano, canton of ticinoarrival date25 february 2020(3 years, 2 months, 2 weeks and 4 days)confirmed cases841,573recovered317,600deaths11,093fatality rate1.47%government websitebag schweiz on 28 february 2020, the national government, the federal council, banned all events with more than 1,000 participants. on 16 march 2020, a state of extraordinary situation under the federal law of epidemics was declared. most shops were closed nationwide. shortly thereafter, on 20 march, all gatherings of more than five people in public spaces were banned. additionally, the government gradually imposed restrictions on border crossings and announced economic support measures worth 40 billion swiss francs. the measures were gradually removed in several phases beginning in late april until june 2020 but new measures were imposed in october as cases surged again. on 23 december 2020, the vaccination campaign started in switzerland, ahead of that of most european countries. four days earlier, swissmedic approved the first covid-19 vaccine for regular use. on august 1, 2021, switzerland achieved a vaccination rate of 52%. from 13 september 2021, access to indoor public spaces like restaurants, bars, museums or fitness centres is only permitted with a valid covid certificate. almost all measures were lifted on 17 february 2022. background on 12 january, the world health organization (who) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in wuhan city, hubei province, china, who had initially come to the attention of the who on 31 december 2019. unlike sars of 2003, the case fatality ratio for covid-19 has been much lower, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll. the covid-19 virus has an especially high mortality rate for the elderly aged 65 and over. this was especially concerning for switzerland which had an elderly population of 18.3 percent in 2018, above the average for oecd countries. timeline february 2020 covid-19 cases in switzerland () deaths recoveries active cases2020202020212021febfebmarmarapraprmaymayjunjunjuljulaugaugsepsepoctoctnovnovdecdecjanjanfebfebmarmarapraprmaymayjunjunlast 15 dayslast 15 days date# of cases# of deaths 2020-02-251(n.a.) 2020-02-262(+100%) 2020-02-278(+300%) 2020-02-2813(+62%) 2020-02-2918(+38%) 2020-03-0122(+22%) 2020-03-0240(+82%) 2020-03-0355(+38%) 2020-03-0472(+31%) 2020-03-05102(+42%) 2020-03-06198(+94%) 2020-03-07254(+28%) 2020-03-08350(+38%) 2020-03-09369(+5.4%) 2020-03-10480(+30%) 2020-03-11640(+33%) 2020-03-12858(+34%) 2020-03-131,139(+33%) 2020-03-141,359(+19%) 2020-03-152,217(+63%) 2020-03-162,353(+6.1%) 2020-03-172,677(+14%) 2020-03-183,070(+15%) 2020-03-193,888(+27%) 2020-03-204,840(+24%) 2020-03-216,113(+26%) 2020-03-227,014(+15%) 2020-03-238,060(+15%) 2020-03-248,836(+9.6%) 2020-03-259,765(+11%)153(n.a.) 2020-03-2610,714(+9.7%)192(+39) 2020-03-2712,161(+14%)231(+39) 2020-03-2813,213(+8.7%)264(+33) 2020-03-2914,336(+8.5%)300(+36) 2020-03-3015,475(+7.9%)359(+59) 2020-03-3116,176(+4.5%)433(+74) 2020-04-0117,139(+6%)488(+55) 2020-04-0218,267(+6.6%)536(+48) 2020-04-0319,303(+5.7%)591(+55) 2020-04-0420,505(+6.2%)666(+75) 2020-04-0521,100(+2.9%)715(+49) 2020-04-0621,657(+2.6%)756(+41) 2020-04-0722,253(+2.8%)821(+65) 2020-04-0823,248(+4.5%)893(+72) 2020-04-0924,046(+3.4%)948(+55) 2020-04-1024,551(+2.1%)1,002(+54) 2020-04-1125,107(+2.3%)1,036(+34) 2020-04-1225,415(+1.2%)1,106(+70) 2020-04-1325,688(+1.1%)1,138(+32) 2020-04-1425,936(+0.97%)1,174(+36) 2020-04-1526,336(+1.5%)1,239(+65) 2020-04-1626,732(+1.5%)1,281(+42) 2020-04-1727,078(+1.3%)1,327(+46) 2020-04-1827,404(+1.2%)1,366(+39) 2020-04-1927,740(+1.2%)1,393(+27) 2020-04-2027,944(+0.74%)1,427(+34) 2020-04-2128,063(+0.43%)1,478(+51) 2020-04-2228,268(+0.73%)1,509(+31) 2020-04-2328,496(+0.81%)1,549(+40) 2020-04-2428,677(+0.64%)1,589(+40) 2020-04-2528,894(+0.76%)1,599(+10) 2020-04-2629,061(+0.58%)1,607(+8) 2020-04-2729,164(+0.35%)1,665(+58) 2020-04-2829,264(+0.34%)1,699(+34) 2020-04-2929,407(+0.49%)1,716(+17) 2020-04-3029,586(+0.61%)1,737(+21) 2020-05-0129,705(+0.4%)1,754(+17) 2020-05-0229,817(+0.38%)1,762(+8) 2020-05-0329,905(+0.3%)1,762(=) 2020-05-0429,981(+0.25%)1,784(+22) 2020-05-0530,009(+0.09%)1,795(+11) 2020-05-0630,060(+0.17%)1,805(+10) 2020-05-0730,126(+0.22%)1,810(+5) 2020-05-0830,207(+0.27%)1,823(+13) 2020-05-0930,251(+0.15%)1,830(+7) 2020-05-1030,305(+0.18%)1,833(+3) 2020-05-1130,344(+0.13%)1,845(+12) 2020-05-1230,380(+0.12%)1,867(+22) 2020-05-1330,413(+0.11%)1,870(+3) 2020-05-1430,463(+0.16%)1,872(+2) 2020-05-1530,514(+0.17%)1,878(+6) 2020-05-1630,572(+0.19%)1,879(+1) 2020-05-1730,587(+0.05%)1,881(+2) 2020-05-1830,597(+0.03%)1,886(+5) 2020-05-1930,618(+0.07%)1,891(+5) 2020-05-2030,658(+0.13%)1,892(+1) 2020-05-2130,694(+0.12%)1,898(+6) 2020-05-2230,707(+0.04%)1,903(+5) 2020-05-2330,725(+0.06%)1,905(+2) 2020-05-2430,736(+0.04%)1,906(+1) 2020-05-2530,746(+0.03%)1,913(+7) 2020-05-2630,761(+0.05%)1,915(+2) 2020-05-2730,776(+0.05%)1,917(+2) 2020-05-2830,796(+0.06%)1,919(+2) 2020-05-2930,828(+0.1%)1,919(=) 2020-05-3030,845(+0.06%)1,919(=) 2020-05-3130,862(+0.06%)1,920(+1) 2020-06-0130,871(+0.03%)1,920(=) 2020-06-0230,874(+0.01%)1,920(=) 2020-06-0330,893(+0.06%)1,921(+1) 2020-06-0430,913(+0.06%)1,921(=) 2020-06-0530,936(+0.07%)1,921(=) 2020-06-0630,956(+0.06%)1,921(=) 2020-06-0730,965(+0.03%)1,921(=) 2020-06-0830,972(+0.02%)1,923(+2) 2020-06-0930,988(+0.05%)1,934(+11) 2020-06-1031,011(+0.07%)1,936(+2) 2020-06-1131,044(+0.11%)1,937(+1) 2020-06-1231,063(+0.06%)1,938(+1) 2020-06-1331,094(+0.1%)1,938(=) 2020-06-1431,117(+0.07%)1,938(=) 2020-06-1531,131(+0.04%)1,939(+1) 2020-06-1631,154(+0.07%)1,954(+15) 2020-06-1731,187(+0.11%)1,956(+2) 2020-06-1831,200(+0.04%)1,956(=) 2020-06-1931,235(+0.11%)1,956(=) 2020-06-2031,243(+0.03%)1,956(=) 2020-06-2131,292(+0.16%)1,956(=) 2020-06-2231,310(+0.06%)1,956(=) 2020-06-2331,332(+0.07%)1,956(=) 2020-06-2431,376(+0.14%)1,958(+2) 2020-06-2531,428(+0.17%)1,958(=) 2020-06-2631,486(+0.18%)1,958(=) 2020-06-2731,555(+0.22%)1,962(+4) 2020-06-2831,617(+0.2%)1,962(=) 2020-06-2931,652(+0.11%)1,962(=) 2020-06-3031,714(+0.2%)1,963(+1) 2020-07-0131,851(+0.43%)1,958 2020-07-0231,967(+0.36%)1,965(+7) 2020-07-0332,101(+0.42%)1,965(=) 2020-07-0432,198(+0.3%)1,965(=) 2020-07-0532,268(+0.22%)1,965(=) 2020-07-0632,315(+0.15%)1,965(=) 2020-07-0732,369(+0.17%)1,966(+1) 2020-07-0832,498(+0.4%)1,966(=) 2020-07-0932,586(+0.27%)1,966(=) 2020-07-1032,690(+0.32%)1,966(=) 2020-07-1132,817(+0.39%)1,968(+2) 2020-07-1232,883(+0.2%)1,968(=) 2020-07-1332,946(+0.19%)1,968(=) 2020-07-1433,016(+0.21%)1,968(=) 2020-07-1533,148(+0.4%)1,968(=) 2020-07-1633,290(+0.43%)1,969(+1) 2020-07-1733,382(+0.28%)1,969(=) 2020-07-1833,492(+0.33%)1,969(=) 2020-07-1933,591(+0.3%)1,969(=) 2020-07-2033,634(+0.13%)1,971(+2) 2020-07-2133,742(+0.32%)1,972(+1) 2020-07-2233,883(+0.42%)1,972(=) 2020-07-2334,000(+0.35%)1,975(+3) 2020-07-2434,154(+0.45%)1,977(+2) 2020-07-2534,302(+0.43%)1,977(=) 2020-07-2634,412(+0.32%)1,977(=) 2020-07-2734,477(+0.19%)1,701 2020-07-2834,609(+0.38%)1,703(+2) 2020-07-2934,802(+0.56%)1,703(=) 2020-07-3035,022(+0.63%)1,704(+1) 2020-07-3135,232(+0.6%)1,705(+1) 2020-08-0135,412(+0.51%)1,707(+2) 2020-08-0235,550(+0.39%)1,707(=) 2020-08-0335,616(+0.19%)1,707(=) 2020-08-0435,746(+0.37%)1,706 2020-08-0535,927(+0.51%)1,706(=) 2020-08-0636,108(+0.5%)1,709(+3) 2020-08-0736,269(+0.45%)1,712(+3) 2020-08-0836,451(+0.5%)1,712(=) 2020-08-0936,603(+0.42%)1,712(=) 2020-08-1036,708(+0.29%)1,712(=) 2020-08-1136,895(+0.51%)1,713(+1) 2020-08-1237,169(+0.74%)1,714(+1) 2020-08-1337,403(+0.63%)1,715(+1) 2020-08-1437,671(+0.72%)1,716(+1) 2020-08-1537,924(+0.67%)1,715 2020-08-1638,124(+0.53%)1,716(+1) 2020-08-1738,252(+0.34%)1,716(=) 2020-08-1838,449(+0.52%)1,717(+1) 2020-08-1938,760(+0.81%)1,719(+2) 2020-08-2039,026(+0.69%)1,719(=) 2020-08-2139,332(+0.78%)1,719(=) 2020-08-2239,627(+0.75%)1,720(+1) 2020-08-2339,903(+0.7%)1,720(=) 2020-08-2440,060(+0.39%)1,721(+1) 2020-08-2540,262(+0.5%)1,723(+2) 2020-08-2640,645(+0.95%)1,723(=) 2020-08-2741,006(+0.89%)1,724(+1) 2020-08-2841,346(+0.83%)1,725(+1) ⋮41,346(=)1,725(=) 2020-09-0945,306(+9.6%)1,735(+10) ⋮45,306(=)1,735(=) 2020-09-1648,265(+6.5%)1,755(+20) ⋮48,265(=)1,755(=) 2020-09-2351,101(+5.9%)1,773(+18) ⋮51,101(=)1,773(=) 2020-09-3053,282(+4.3%)1,783(+10) 2020-10-01 2020-10-0254,384(n.a.)1,784(n.a.) ⋮54,384(=)1,784(=) 2020-10-0960,368(+11%)1,794(+10) ⋮60,368(=)1,794(=) 2020-10-1674,422(+23%)1,823(+29) ⋮74,422(=)1,823(=) 2020-10-1983,159(+12%)1,837(+14) 2020-10-2086,167(+3.6%)1,845(+8) 2020-10-2191,763(+6.5%)1,856(+11) 2020-10-2297,019(+5.7%)1,867(+11) 2020-10-23103,653(+6.8%)1,877(+10) ⋮103,653(=)1,877(=) 2020-10-26121,093(+17%)1,914(+37) 2020-10-27127,042(+4.9%)1,930(+16) 2020-10-28135,658(+6.8%)2,167(+237) 2020-10-29145,044(+6.9%)2,200(+33) 2020-10-30154,251(+6.3%)2,232(+32) ⋮154,251(=)2,232(=) 2020-11-02176,177(+14%)2,130 2020-11-03182,303(+3.5%)2,201(+71) 2020-11-04192,376(+5.5%)2,275(+74) 2020-11-05202,504(+5.3%)2,337(+62) 2020-11-06211,913(+4.6%)2,407(+70) ⋮211,913(=)2,407(=) 2020-11-09229,222(+8.2%)2,576(+169) 2020-11-10235,202(+2.6%)2,683(+107) 2020-11-11243,472(+3.5%)2,769(+86) 2020-11-12250,396(+2.8%)2,863(+94) 2020-11-13257,135(+2.7%)2,960(+97) ⋮257,135(=)2,960(=) 2020-11-16269,974(+5%)3,158(+198) 2020-11-17274,534(+1.7%)3,300(+142) 2020-11-18280,648(+2.2%)3,385(+85) 2020-11-19285,655(+1.8%)3,464(+79) 2020-11-20290,601(+1.7%)3,575(+111) ⋮290,601(=)3,575(=) 2020-11-23300,352(+3.4%)3,788(+213) 2020-11-24304,593(+1.4%)3,930(+142) 2020-11-25309,469(+1.6%)4,030(+100) 2020-11-26313,978(+1.5%)4,109(+79) 2020-11-27318,290(+1.4%)4,250(+141) ⋮318,290(=)4,250(=) 2020-11-30327,072(+2.8%)4,445(+195) 2020-12-01330,874(+1.2%)4,552(+107) 2020-12-02335,660(+1.4%)4,667(+115) 2020-12-03340,115(+1.3%)4,747(+80) 2020-12-04344,497(+1.3%)4,848(+101) ⋮344,497(=)4,848(=) 2020-12-07354,306(+2.8%)5,024(+176) 2020-12-08358,568(+1.2%)5,116(+92) 2020-12-09363,654(+1.4%)5,203(+87) 2020-12-10368,695(+1.4%)5,290(+87) 2020-12-11373,831(+1.4%)5,396(+106) ⋮373,831(=)5,396(=) 2020-12-14384,557(+2.9%)5,589(+193) 2020-12-15388,828(+1.1%)5,692(+103) 2020-12-16394,453(+1.4%)5,781(+89) 2020-12-17399,511(+1.3%)5,883(+102) 2020-12-18403,989(+1.1%)6,003(+120) ⋮403,989(=)6,003(=) 2020-12-21413,991(+2.5%)6,204(+201) ⋮413,991(=)6,204(=) 2020-12-24428,197(+3.4%)6,534(+330) ⋮428,197(=)6,534(=) 2020-12-28438,284(+2.4%)6,778(+244) 2020-12-29438,284(=)6,778(=) 2020-12-30447,905(+2.2%)7,005(+227) 2020-12-31452,296(+0.98%)7,082(+77) ⋮452,296(=)7,082(=) 2021-01-05465,981(+3%)7,369(+287) 2021-01-06 2021-01-07470,789(n.a.)7,434(n.a.) 2021-01-08 2021-01-09477,983(n.a.)7,583(n.a.) 2021-01-10 2021-01-11484,506(n.a.)7,695(n.a.) 2021-01-12 2021-01-13490,358(n.a.)7,851(n.a.) 2021-01-14492,832(+0.5%)7,904(+53) 2021-01-15495,228(+0.49%)7,970(+66) ⋮495,228(=)7,970(=) 2021-01-18499,931(+0.95%)8,091(+121) 2021-01-19502,191(+0.45%)8,166(+75) 2021-01-20504,918(+0.54%)8,236(+70) 2021-01-21507,123(+0.44%)8,283(+47) 2021-01-22509,279(+0.43%)8,345(+62) ⋮509,279(=)8,345(=) 2021-01-25513,599(+0.85%)8,430(+85) 2021-01-26515,483(+0.37%)8,487(+57) 2021-01-27517,705(+0.43%)8,545(+58) 2021-01-28519,404(+0.33%)8,597(+52) 2021-01-29521,320(+0.37%)8,647(+50) ⋮521,320(=)8,647(=) 2021-02-01525,095(+0.72%)8,725(+78) 2021-02-02526,728(+0.31%)8,771(+46) 2021-02-03528,524(+0.34%)8,813(+42) 2021-02-04530,289(+0.33%)8,836(+23) 2021-02-05531,873(+0.3%)8,868(+32) ⋮531,873(=)8,868(=) 2021-02-08535,153(+0.62%)8,918(+50) 2021-02-09536,516(+0.25%)8,960(+42) 2021-02-10538,118(+0.3%)8,978(+18) 2021-02-11539,474(+0.25%)9,000(+22) 2021-02-12540,727(+0.23%)9,031(+31) ⋮540,727(=)9,031(=) 2021-02-15543,207(+0.46%)9,071(+40) 2021-02-16544,282(+0.2%)9,106(+35) 2021-02-17545,535(+0.23%)9,128(+22) 2021-02-18546,754(+0.22%)9,190(+62) 2021-02-19547,775(+0.19%)9,200(+10) ⋮547,775(=)9,200(=) 2021-02-22550,224(+0.45%)9,226(+26) 2021-02-23551,355(+0.21%)9,240(+14) 2021-02-24552,698(+0.24%)9,256(+16) 2021-02-25553,867(+0.21%)9,263(+7) 2021-02-26554,932(+0.19%)9,271(+8) ⋮554,932(=)9,271(=) 2021-03-01557,492(+0.46%)9,287(+16) 2021-03-02558,622(+0.2%)9,303(+16) 2021-03-03559,845(+0.22%)9,310(+7) 2021-03-04561,068(+0.22%)9,319(+9) 2021-03-05562,290(+0.22%)9,331(+12) ⋮562,290(=)9,331(=) 2021-03-08565,034(+0.49%)9,347(+16) 2021-03-09566,412(+0.24%)9,360(+13) 2021-03-10567,903(+0.26%)9,374(+14) 2021-03-11569,312(+0.25%)9,402(+28) 2021-03-12570,645(+0.23%)9,413(+11) ⋮570,645(=)9,413(=) 2021-03-15573,815(+0.56%)9,434(+21) 2021-03-16575,253(+0.25%)9,453(+19) 2021-03-17577,111(+0.32%)9,469(+16) 2021-03-18578,861(+0.3%)9,492(+23) 2021-03-19580,609(+0.3%)9,509(+17) ⋮580,609(=)9,509(=) 2021-03-22584,252(+0.63%)9,521(+12) 2021-03-23586,096(+0.32%)9,532(+11) 2021-03-24588,118(+0.34%)9,552(+20) 2021-03-25590,164(+0.35%)9,621(+69) 2021-03-26592,217(+0.35%)9,631(+10) ⋮592,217(=)9,631(=) 2021-03-29596,790(+0.77%)9,643(+12) 2021-03-30598,713(+0.32%)9,662(+19) 2021-03-31601,124(+0.4%)9,676(+14) 2021-04-01603,092(+0.33%)9,708(+32) 2021-04-02605,342(+0.37%)9,731(+23) ⋮605,342(=)9,731(=) 2021-04-06610,274(+0.81%)9,751(+20) 2021-04-07612,575(+0.38%)9,772(+21) 2021-04-08615,024(+0.4%)9,792(+20) 2021-04-09617,543(+0.41%)9,804(+12) ⋮617,543(=)9,804(=) 2021-04-12623,126(+0.9%)9,820(+16) 2021-04-13625,367(+0.36%)9,830(+10) 2021-04-14627,968(+0.42%)9,844(+14) 2021-04-15630,194(+0.35%)9,865(+21) 2021-04-16632,399(+0.35%)9,869(+4) ⋮632,399(=)9,869(=) 2021-04-19637,304(+0.78%)9,885(+16) 2021-04-20639,445(+0.34%)9,898(+13) 2021-04-21642,131(+0.42%)9,906(+8) 2021-04-22644,396(+0.35%)9,948(+42) 2021-04-23646,509(+0.33%)9,955(+7) ⋮646,509(=)9,955(=) 2021-04-26651,822(+0.82%)9,971(+16) 2021-04-27653,957(+0.33%)9,982(+11) 2021-04-28656,077(+0.32%)10,001(+19) 2021-04-29658,143(+0.31%)10,019(+18) 2021-04-30659,974(+0.28%)10,027(+8) ⋮659,974(=)10,027(=) 2021-05-03663,952(+0.6%)10,043(+16) 2021-05-04665,585(+0.25%)10,056(+13) 2021-05-05667,380(+0.27%)10,069(+13) 2021-05-06669,067(+0.25%)10,110(+41) 2021-05-07670,613(+0.23%)10,114(+4) ⋮670,613(=)10,114(=) 2021-05-10674,296(+0.55%)10,129(+15) 2021-05-11675,671(+0.2%)10,133(+4) 2021-05-12677,210(+0.23%)10,137(+4) 2021-05-13 2021-05-14679,510(n.a.)10,179(n.a.) ⋮679,510(=)10,179(=) 2021-05-17682,160(+0.39%)10,187(+8) 2021-05-18683,400(+0.18%)10,197(+10) 2021-05-19684,954(+0.23%)10,200(+3) 2021-05-20686,152(+0.17%)10,216(+16) 2021-05-21687,353(+0.18%)10,226(+10) ⋮687,353(=)10,226(=) 2021-05-25690,123(+0.4%)10,239(+13) 2021-05-26691,119(+0.14%)10,241(+2) 2021-05-27692,111(+0.14%)10,250(+9) 2021-05-28693,023(+0.13%)10,253(+3) ⋮693,023(=)10,253(=) 2021-05-31694,740(+0.25%)10,262(+9) 2021-06-01695,496(+0.11%)10,268(+6) 2021-06-02696,213(+0.1%)10,268(=) 2021-06-03696,801(+0.08%)10,269(+1) 2021-06-04697,292(+0.07%)10,272(+3) ⋮697,292(=)10,272(=) 2021-06-07698,369(+0.15%)10,284(+12) 2021-06-08698,798(+0.06%)10,288(+4) 2021-06-09699,339(+0.08%)10,295(+7) 2021-06-10699,697(+0.05%)10,301(+6) 2021-06-11700,051(+0.05%)10,304(+3) sources: bag schweiz includes cases and deaths in the principality of liechtenstein. the lower death number on 2020-07-27 is from bag schweiz. on 25 february 2020, switzerland confirmed the first case of covid-19, a 70-year-old man in the italian-speaking canton of ticino bordering italy, who had previously visited milan tested positive for sars-cov-2. on 27 february, a 28-year-old it worker from geneva, who had recently returned from milan, tested positive and was admitted to the geneva university hospital. a 55-year-old italian who worked in an international company also tested positive in geneva. two italian children, who were on vacation in graubünden, tested positive and were hospitalised. a 26-year-old man in aargau, who had gone on a business trip the week before and stayed in verona, tested positive and was hospitalised. a 30-year-old woman, who had visited milan, was admitted to a hospital in zurich. a 49-year-old man living in france and working in vaud was confirmed positive in canton of vaud. a young woman, who had travelled to milan, tested positive in basel-stadt. she worked in a daycare centre in riehen, and after her test had been confirmed, the children at the daycare were put into a two-week quarantine. on 28 february, her partner, a 23-year-old man, also tested positive in basel-landschaft. march 2020 on 3 march, the university of zurich announced six confirmed cases of coronavirus at the institute of mathematics. as of 5 march, there are 10 confirmed cases at the university of zurich, at least 7 at the i-math and 1 at the center of dental medicine. on 5 march, the lausanne university hospital announced that a 74-year-old female coronavirus case had died overnight. the patient had been hospitalised since 3 march, and had had chronic illness. on 11 march, a 54-year-old male died from covid-19 in the bruderholz hospital in basel-landschaft, marking the fourth fatal case in switzerland. he had joined a religious event in mulhouse, france prior to contracting the virus and developing pneumonia. on 16 march 2020, a state of extraordinary situation under the federal law of epidemics was declared. government response official information explaining hygiene rules and correct reaction in case of symptoms (version of 16 march 2020 in the parliament building) number of cases (blue) and number of deaths (red) on a logarithmic scale the government began to hold covid-19 press conferences to which several members of the federal council (swiss cabinet) and the head of the swiss corona task-force, daniel koch (dubbed mr. corona by the media) assisted. on 27 february 2020, following the confirmation of covid-19 cases in the region, graubünden cancelled the engadiner skimarathon. on 28 february, the federal council banned events involving more than 1,000 people in an effort to curb the spread of the infection. multiple events such as carnivals and fairs were either postponed or cancelled. geneva motor show, baselworld, bern carnival and the carnival of basel were cancelled. university of bern replaced all face-to-face lectures with more than 250 attendees with online lectures. on 6 march, the federal council announced a "changed strategy" with a focus on the protection of the most vulnerable individuals, i.e., older persons and persons with pre-existing conditions. on 13 march, the federal council decided to cancel classes in all educational establishments until 4 april 2020, and banned all events (public or private) involving more than 100 people. it has also decided to partially close its borders and enacted border controls. the canton of vaud took more drastic measures, prohibiting all public and private gatherings with more than 50 people, and closing its educational establishments until 30 april. on 16 march, the federal council announced further measures, and a revised ordinance applicable on 17 march. measures include the closure of bars, shops and other gathering places until 19 april, but leaves open certain essentials, such as grocery shops, pharmacies, (a reduced) public transport and the postal service. the government announced a 42 billion chf rescue package for the economy, which included money to replace lost wages for employed and self-employed people, short-term loans to businesses, delay for payments to the government, and support for cultural and sport organisations. on 20 march, the government announced that no complete lockdown would be implemented, but all events or meetings over 5 people were prohibited. economic activities would continue including construction. those measures were prolonged until 26 april 2020. on 16 april, switzerland announced that the country would ease restrictions in a three-step, gradual way. the first step began on 27 april, for those who work in close contact with others, but not in large numbers. surgeons, dentists, day care workers, hairdressers, massage and beauty salons could be opened with safety procedures applied. diy stores, garden centres, florists and food shops that also sell other goods could also be opened. the second step was to begin on 11 may, assuming implementation of the first step without problems, at which time other shops and schools could be opened. the third step would begin on 8 june with the easing of restrictions on vocational schools, universities, museums, zoos and libraries. from the 25 june onwards, the government pays for the costs of an eventual covid test, if a patient has enough symptoms of covid-19. in july and august, masks became mandatory, first on public transport and then also in airplanes. in october 2020, following a rapid increase in corona cases, the authorities imposed stricter public health measures. these include limiting public gatherings to 15 people, prioritising home office and making masks mandatory in all enclosed public spaces. in january 2021, after a month of corona cases remaining at a high level, additional measures were passed that required the closure of all restaurants, sport and cultural venues as well as shops that do not sell products for daily use. from 13 september 2021, access to most indoor public spaces like restaurants, bars, museums or fitness centres was only permitted with a valid covid certificate. no other restrictions were put in place for the fully vaccinated and boosted people. on 17 february 2022, almost all measures were lifted, mask remaining mandatory on public transport and in healthcare institutions only. the flon in lausanne before and at the peak of the first covid-19 outbreak. unlike in many other countries, no strict confinement was imposed in switzerland. proximity tracing: swisscovid an international consortium of researchers, mainly at the école polytechnique fédérale de lausanne and the swiss federal institute of technology in zurich, developed the decentralized privacy-preserving proximity tracing (dp3t) framework for digital contact tracing. the dp3t framework then provided the basis for the covid-19 contact tracing app swisscovid, developed by swiss dp3t researchers, and the private sector in collaboration with swiss federal administration. in april, swiss authorities first manifested public support for the project, and initiated a legislative process to draft a law allowing for a national digital contact tracing system. at the end of may, a law was approved, after which a test version was made available for a restricted public, and the source code was released. at the end