Coronavirus: Federal Council takes first cautious step to reopen from 1 March

From Monday, 1 March, shops, museums and library reading rooms can reopen, along with outdoor sports and leisure facilities, zoos and botanical gardens. Outdoor events for family and friends and sports and cultural activities involving up to 15 people will also be permitted. Young people up to the age of 20 will be able to take part in most sporting and cultural activities without restriction. This is what the Federal Council decided at its meeting on 24 February 2021 after consulting the cantons. The next stage in reopening is scheduled for 22 March, but will depend on the epidemiological situation. With this cautious reopening, the Federal Council is aiming to achieve a gradual normalisation of social and economic life, even though the epidemiological situation remains precarious because new, more infectious variants of the virus are circulating. The initial reopening phase from 1 March essentially involves activities that allow people to wear masks and maintain social distancing, and that only involve small numbers of people or meeting outdoors.