The National Council followed the States Council on Thursday and decided in favor of a minority around Thomas de Courten (SVP/BL) – with 93 against 91 votes with one abstention. Where a test is needed, it could be billed to health insurance, de Courten said. And where not, for example for a trip, the testees would have to pay for it themselves.
The renewed extension of the Covid 19 law has thus been arranged. Parliament has extended further measures to combat the pandemic until June 2024. The relevant provisions will be declared urgent at the current session and will enter into force on 1 January 2023.
One of the extended tools is the Covid-19 certificate for those who have been vaccinated, who have recovered and who have tested negative. Parliament wants to keep it the same with the legal basis for the currently deactivated Swiss Covid app. This is used to keep track of contacts of those who have tested positive.
The federal government’s authority to promote the development of covid-19 medicines and facilities to protect vulnerable persons in the workplace must also be preserved. Measures in the area of foreigners and asylum seekers and in the event of border closures are also being extended – to ensure freedom of travel for border commuters and the border population.
(SDA)