Coronavirus in Switzerland - any reports? May change our Italy trip

Posted by Pat (San Diego, California) on 03/02/20 06:17 AM

I know we have OP's on-the-ground in Switzerland. What do you all report?

We are scheduled to fly into Milan April 13, and go to Lake Como, Venice, and Sorrento. I'm wondering if a trip back to Switzerland may be our Plan B, if our Milan flight gets canceled. I noticed that the RS Swiss trips are filling up fast, so it looks like many others have thought of the Swiss option. We would be doing the trip on our own, however.

I appreciate any feedback those of you in Switzerland might share. Thanks so much.

Posted by Ken

Vernon, Canada

03/02/20 06:46 AM

32206 posts

Pat,

This information is fairly current (as of this evening), so might be helpful - https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/covid-19_switzerland-confirms-second-coronavirus-case/45582788 .

I don't think there's any escape from the virus anywhere in Europe at the moment, however ir doesn't seem to be as prevalent there as in the most heavily infected towns in Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna in Italy.

Posted by Andre L.

Tilburg, Netherlands

03/02/20 10:19 AM

2829 posts

Switzerland is seeing a rapid increase in new cases. Events likely to attract >1000 people have been canceled until mid-March (at least). If cases really increase in Northern Italy, it is inevitable the same will happen in Switzerland.

Posted by Pat OP

San Diego, California

03/02/20 08:53 PM

4699 posts

Ken and Andre, thanks so much for taking the time to respond.
Safe travels!

Posted by Chris F

Basel, Switzerland

03/02/20 11:37 PM

8889 posts

You asked for reports from people "on-the-ground".
I can report that since Friday (28th Feb) the federal government has banned all gatherings of more than 1000 people. So all concerts football matches, Fasnacht (carnival) are all cancelled. This has made some people grumpy.
The number of confirmed Coronavirus cases keeps creeping up, about 40-something (I can't find the current figure, and anyway it keeps changing). Already one person has recovered.
Compared to the number of flu cases every winter, very low.
All these cases traced back to northern Italy.

People are being recommended not to shake hands when they meet. Normally in Switzerland, you shake hands when you meet, with friends as well.

Apart from that, nothing abnormal. People are walking about as normal. I haven't seen anyone wearing a mask. Everything is running normally.
In short: What Coronavirus?

Posted by Pat OP

San Diego, California

03/02/20 11:49 PM

4699 posts

Thanks, Chris, you are always such a great resource. Even tho I was just there for the xmas markets, if our Italy trip isn't advisable , I'd be thrilled to come back again, especially if British Air won't just give us a full refund- IF it comes to that. [I'm getting ahead of myself.] AND- we finally did see the hippo, which was quite near our hotel in Basel!