Swiss president tests positive as Covid rules lifted

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Switzerland’s President Ignazio Cassis, sporting a facemask as a safety measure towards the Covid-19 coronavirus, appears on throughout a press convention following bilaterals conferences with US Secretary of State and Russian International Minister in Geneva on January 21, 2022. – Washington and Moscow’s high diplomats agreed at high-stakes talks to maintain working to ease tensions over Ukraine. (Photograph by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — President Ignazio Cassis has examined constructive for Covid-19, the federal government mentioned on Thursday — the identical day Switzerland lifted virtually all remaining coronavirus restrictions regardless of excessive case numbers.

Wednesday’s “take a look at got here again constructive and the president went into self-isolation this morning as quickly as he realized of the take a look at end result,” a authorities assertion mentioned. “Mr Cassis has no signs and is in good well being.”

The previous cantonal physician, aged 60, who holds the annually-rotating Swiss presidency alongside his overseas affairs temporary, will return to his workplace subsequent week.

Cassis struck an upbeat tone on Wednesday as he introduced Switzerland was becoming a member of European international locations together with Austria, Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway in dropping virtually all of Covid-19 restrictions.

“The sunshine is unquestionably there on the horizon,” he instructed a press convention, including it was time to “be taught to reside with the virus”.

“We shouldn’t be afraid of a return to regular, however we shouldn’t be too enthusiastic both,” he mentioned.

The one remaining coronavirus necessities in Switzerland are the duty to self-isolate for 5 days after a constructive take a look at and to put on masks on public transport and in healthcare establishments.

To enter the nation, it’s now not needed to offer proof of vaccination, restoration or a adverse take a look at, or full an entry kind.

Switzerland, inhabitants 8.6 million, has registered greater than 2.6 million Covid-19 circumstances and over 12,500 deaths in the course of the pandemic.

At round 20,000 a day, recorded new infections at the moment are round half of the height witnessed in the direction of the tip of January. Nonetheless, the case charge continues to be increased than within the surrounding European Union.

Practically 69 % of Swiss residents are totally vaccinated and 41 % have had a booster dose.

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