Switzerland to Facilitate COVID-19 Immunity Certificates

The Swiss Federal Council confirmed on October 20, 2021, it wants to facilitate access to the COVID certificate for people who have recovered from COVID-19.

The Federal Council seeks to facilitate access to the COVID certificate for specific groups by introducing a 'Swiss COVID certificate.'

These new certificates are to be valid in Switzerland only.

At present, people who have recovered from COVID-19 can only obtain a certificate to prove their recovery status with a PCR test result.

Under the latest proposal, Swiss COVID certificates would also be issued to anyone who can present a current positive antibody or serology test.

Certificates issued in such cases would be valid for 90 days only.

Also, the validity period for all recovery certificates issued to date (with a PCR test) is to be doubled from 180 to 365 days.

Based on the evidence currently available, this provides sufficient protection against serious illness and hospitalization.

However, as recovery certificates are valid for only 180 days in the EU, with some exceptions, this extended certificate is also only for use in Switzerland.

The Federal Council intends to postpone any lifting of certificate requirements for the time being and will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation over the next few weeks.

The Council intends to reassess the situation in mid-November 2021 when the effects of the cooler temperatures and the schools' reopening can be evaluated.

Additional SARS-CoV-2 virus immunity news is posted on this CoronavirusToday webpage.