Mandatory Mask Wearing; Swiss Employers Transport Plan; A Night of Extreme Temperatures

News For 7 July 2020

The Swiss Government announced that from July 6th, wearing masks is mandatory on public transport. The decision is a response to increasing numbers of coronavirus cases after a time of low infection in the country. Due to measures being relaxed, more people have begun to use public transport, and often distance cannot be maintained. The rule applies to passengers who are 12 or older, on trams, trains, buses, mountain railways, cable cars and ships. Anyone refusing will be fined or asked to exit the transport.

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Employers across Switzerland are adopting flexible working hours to avoid congestion in public transport. This was implemented to protect workers from Covid-19, which can be easily transferable in busy public transport. Some companies are organising groups of workers to come in at scattered times. Geneva-based Japan Tobacco International are bringing in groups of workers every other week, to avoid congestion in public transport.

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Switzerland experienced a night of extremes. The temperatures north of the Alps fell to low values ​​on Tuesday night, while the south saw high temperatures. North of the Alps, such as around Lake Zurich, we saw frost as temperatures became cool, but in the south it was described as a tropical night, with temperatures of 19 degrees Celsius. In Zurich, the morning saw temperatures of around 5 degrees Celsius - lower than expected, as there are some warm summer days to come this week.