BERN, Switzerland, Dec 3, 2021 (AFP) – Switzerland announced Friday it was dropping 10-day quarantine rules for people flying in from countries where the Omicron Covid-19 variant has been detected.

The wealthy Alpine nation — one of Europe’s top skiing holiday destinations — said the rule no longer made sense now that the variant is also circulating in Switzerland.

Swiss ski resorts are heavily reliant on winter tourists from Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands — three countries which had been on the quarantine list.

“All countries are removed from the quarantine list as of Saturday,” the government said.

Everyone entering Switzerland must present a negative PCR test, except those crossing the border from neighbouring Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Liechtenstein.

Around 340,000 workers a day cross the border into the landlocked country.

People must be tested again between the fourth and seventh day after entering Switzerland.

Those already in quarantine are immediately free to go but must do the day four to seven test.

The Swiss government also said non-vaccinated foreign tourists from any region deemed at risk in Europe’s Schengen open-borders area would no longer be able to enter.

Covid-19 vaccines will remain free and easily available in 2022, the government announced.

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