"The Federal Council enforces restrictions despite violent protests from the cantons and the catering industry. «Restaurants, bars, shops, markets, museums, libraries as well as sports and leisure facilities must close between 7pm and 6am. Shops, markets, museums, libraries as well as sports and leisure facilities are also closed on Sundays and national holidays, ”a statement said. Restaurants and bars, on the other hand, can be open on Sundays and public holidays. On December 24th and New Year's Eve, restrictions do not apply until 1 a.m. Takeaway offers and delivery services can remain open until 11 p.m.

However, the Federal Council makes concessions to those cantons in which there is a “favorable epidemiological situation”. They are allowed to extend the curfew to 11 p.m. “The prerequisite for this is that the reproduction value is below 1 for at least 7 days and the 7-day incidence for at least 7 days below the Swiss average. In addition, sufficient capacities in contact tracing and health care must be available in the canton. If a canton wants to extend the opening times, it must coordinate with the neighboring cantons."

According to the latest official figures from ETH (November 28th) and BAG (December 6th), this currently applies to the following cantons:

Appenzell-Innerrhoden, Bern, Friborg, Geneva, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Obwalden and Nidwalden, Uri, Vaud, Valais and Zug

https://www.20min.ch/story/in-diesen...n-388399438646

Events prohibited
As announced, the government bans public events. Religious celebrations with a maximum of 50 people, funerals in family and close circle of friends, meetings of legislatures and political rallies are excluded.

Private meetings: Still a maximum of 10 people
The Federal Council does not provide for any stricter regulations for private meetings. «The Federal Council remains with the previous regulation with a maximum of 10 people. The children are also counted, ”says the message. The Federal Council also strongly recommends limiting private meetings to two households. This regulation is clear and enables Christmas celebrations on a small scale.

Sport and culture: no more than five
With the new measures, leisure sports activities are only allowed in groups of up to 5 people. Contact sports remain prohibited.
Group activities are also limited to 5 people in the non-professional cultural sector.

Sports and cultural activities (without competitions) by children and young people before their 16th birthday are still allowed. Likewise, trainings and competitions by members of a national team as well as trainings and matches in the professional leagues, but without an audience. Rehearsals and performances by professional artists or ensembles are also allowed.

https://www.20min.ch/story/diese-mas...g-109261772948

In case you've not noticed, the changing seasons puts the corona virus into a more nocturnal mood, with less light shining on it it can move about more freely. It's only right they close everything shortly before its most active period. Think of it like a viral mosquito. Can happen in the day, but way more active shortly after dark.
The other big reason they've gone with 1900 is to save shopkeepers keeping daylight beaming in their stores to scare away the covid and welcome in the cold terrified shopper from the covid wasteland that is the outside. Too many shops and pubs have been dimming the lights late in the evening for a more "intimate" feel, incidentally providing improved survivability for the corona. This is further aided by the patrons stumbling around in the dark bumping into each other.

That or they need to be seen to be doing something to bring the numbers down.

I am relieved, it is not me. Berset cannot explain the 7pm rule either.

To be consistent with this logic, they should have introduced a closing time that is adjusted every day to sunset. For today that would be 16:34, according to MeteoSchweiz.

Well us in or near GE have been living with it since beginning of Nov.

Now our numbers are relatively good, everyone has to do it federally cause other cantons weren't capable it seems.

The problem is that they based it on a paper that was released at the start of October. The science can't keep up.

It seems they have listened to your eloquent and balanced remark.

Same here in Neuchâtel.

If I’ve read Sigh’s post above correctly it would appear that we fulfil the criteria for an exemption from the 7pm curfew.

Yup Neuchâtel is excluded!

For all you fellow gas station shoppers: You can buy gas but nothing else after 7pm and on Sundays, it seems.

Actually the 5 people rule at federal level hasn't happened (remains at 10 and the 2 household remains only a recommendation therefore an invitation to ignore) and those of you living in the west who have been better behaved get treated to a 23:00 shop and restaurant close as a reward.

The 5 person rule was already in force at cantonal level here, they haven’t updated the website yet but I’ll be interested to see if they increase it to 10 now.

I think it's a nod to the Kantons that have taken reasonable steps to get it under control. It's relatively clear as long as there is a golden trusted source for it.

For every stick there is a carrot

The big question will be whether Zürich sticks to the no exceptions for Christmas and New Year and thus restaurants close at 1900 (or simply don't open)....

Fine print with two possibly controversial points:

https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/do...-id-81582.html

Yes but the 5 person rule in GE is still in effect as of today at canton level, its relaxed temporarily to 10 over the holiday period. But maybe now it will be lifted permanently to match other cantons.

I've just been informed by a friend in Luzern that restaurants will indeed have to close by 19:00 there. Luzern is on the BAG list that Sigh linked as a well-behaved canton, so either the list is out of date, or Luzern didn't agree the extended hours with its many neighbours. Or nobody knows what they're talking about.

As someone works in Gastronomy, this will be very painful and will be the end of many small establishments - probably even mine. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the govt doing things to ease the problem of Corona, just for us the timing is dire. For most of us it's the busiest 2 weeks of the year and we're already struggling badly because of Corona.

It's a crappy nightmare that I wish I could wake up from.

I urge everyone to support local businesses like the British Cheese Centre. I’ve ordered from them a couple of times on-line and have received great products and great service!

They are trying to look like they are doing something.

Tom

Given the circumstances and Grumpy's very long association with EF, I think an exception to the rule against commercial plugs is in order. Please consider ordering from his shop in the Viadukt in Zürich, or online at The British Cheese Centre.