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| - Switzerland announced Wednesday it would remove most of its remaining coronavirus restrictions on June 6, when all leisure and entertainment activities can resume if appropriate precautions are in place. "Switzerland is reborn," President Simonetta Sommaruga told a press conference in Bern following a government meeting. "We now know that it is possible to control this virus," she said, with the COVID-19 infection rates stabilising at a low level. Switzerland stopped short of imposing strict confinement in measures introduced in mid-March aimed at stopping the spread of the new coronavirus. It began gradually lifting its restrictions on April 27, when barbers, florists, family doctors and hardware stores were allowed to reopen. In a second stage on May 11, restaurants, museums and primary schools could reopen, as long as appropriate personal protection was put in place. Announcing the third phase of the easing process, the government said that as of June 6, events with up to 300 people will be permitted. This will, among other things, allow United Nations agencies and other international organisations based in Geneva to return to some semblance of normality. In addition, "all leisure and entertainment businesses and tourist attractions may reopen," the government said. Nevertheless, people are encouraged to maintain physical distancing, wear a mask where that is not possible, stick to hand hygiene rules, and continue to work from home if possible. Restaurants and other businesses are being asked to facilitate the tracing of anyone who may have come in contact with a COVID-19 case by registering contact information of their customers. An anonymous, wireless technology-based smartphone app is also in the pipeline to assist with contact tracing. The upper limit on private gatherings will rise from five to 30 from Saturday. From June 6, all schools can reopen, along with theatres, cinemas, holiday camps, zoos, botanical gardens, swimming pools, camp sites and night clubs. Groups of more than four can sit together in restaurants, while strip clubs and prostitution services can resume business as usual. Though nightclubs can reopen, they must adhere to the 300 people limit, close at midnight and compile an attendance list, the government said. While sports training can fully resume, competitions involving close physical contact, including, boxing, wrestling and judo, are likely to remain prohibited until July 6. Nearly 30,700 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Switzerland, while nearly 1,650 people have died. The government said the first two phases of the easing of restrictions did not worsen the spread of the virus. "The number of new cases of infection has remained stable at a low level for a number of weeks now, as has the number of hospital admissions and deaths," it said, with the daily numbers in decline since early April. Controls on Switzerland's borders with neighbours Germany, Austria and France will be lifted on June 15. rjm/nl/spm
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