From: Weighting bias and inflation in the time of COVID-19: evidence from Swiss transaction data
28 February | The Swiss Federal Council categorizes the situation in Switzerland as special in terms of the Epidemics Act. Events with more than |
1000 persons are prohibited effective immediately. Among other things, the Basel Carnival and the Geneva Motor Show are canceled. | |
13 March | The government announces the closure of the schools on Monday, March 16. Events with more than 100 people are prohibited. |
Restaurants, bars, and discos are limited to 50 people. | |
16 March | The Federal President declares the extraordinary situation, allowing the Federal Council to order the introduction of uniform measures |
in all cantons. All public and private events are prohibited. Shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities must close. The lock-down also | |
applies to schools and businesses at which the recommended distance cannot be maintained (e.g., hairdressers and cosmetic | |
studios). Only grocery stores and health facilities remain open. Border controls at the borders with Germany, Austria, and France | |
were introduced, and entry bans imposed, albeit with exceptions. Border checks at the Italian border were already introduced | |
at an earlier stage. Up to 8000 members of the armed forces were deployed to assist the cantons at hospitals and with logistics and security. | |
27 April | First step towards opening: hairdressers, DIY stores, and garden centers may resume operations with protection concepts. |
11 May | Shops, restaurants, public markets, and museums may reopen. Primary and secondary schools can again teach on site. |
6 June | Events with up to 300 people are permitted again. Mountain railways, camping sites, zoos, and leisure facilities may open. |
Secondary, vocational, and higher education establishments may resume teaching. | |
15 June | The borders to all states within the EU/EFTA area will be opened completely. Among other things, shopping tourism to Germany |
or Austria is permitted again. | |
19 June | Return from the extraordinary to the special situation. The cantons will have a greater say and more room for maneuver. In public |
spaces, the minimum distance is reduced from 2 to 1.5 m. Restaurants will be allowed to move their tables closer together, while | |
at the same time the Swiss midnight curfew will be lifted. Meetings and events for up to 1000 people are again permitted. Masks are | |
compulsory at rallies. The recommendation to work from home if possible is repealed. |