Switzerland Covid Q - what happens if covid positive on day 7 of trip?

I would look on a Swiss health/travel website for "what happens if". It would be very difficult for any person on this forem to answer your technical questions. For example if you pop positive in Andalusia Spain your medical bills, hotel bills, food, ambulance are covered for you and a traveling companions, not all of Spain just Andalusia. I would also look into what your going to need test wise to enter Switzerland as I felt very comfortable being on a plane knowing everybody had to test negitave to fly. Not comfortable at all on a plane where anybody can fly without being tested (here in the USA). Sherpa is a good site for current requirments. As a human/mother/travler I would stay GO see your son. You may never get this chance again. J

Another post said the test is between day 4 to 7. As someone who has tested positive with a flight to catch less than two weeks later, I suggest you test as early as it is available. That way, if you were to test positive, you would start the 10-day clock ticking as early as possible.

As for lodging and finding a doctor for a recovery and clearance letter, your son and your hotel would be in the best position to get that information for you.

Yes, you'd have to stay in your hotel room unless you found an apartment to rent. You can see the doctor once your isolation is finished.
Here is the CDC link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

This is another reason why travel insurance is so important in these times, and specifically medical insurance that covers COVID costs. Adding 10 days in Switzerland could get very expensive, including lodging, food delivery, doctors house calls, airfare changes, etc.

If you are contemplating "worst case scenario", I don't think that being cooped up in a Swiss hotel in Switzerland is the "worst case scenario". Perhaps being cooped up in a Swiss hospital for half a year (or worse) is. Many people just wait out their positive tests, but there are a fair few, even if vaccinated, who get break through cases and have to adapt.

I would definitely test now then lay low till I left. And anywhere I went I would mask up.

Of course, Barbara. Any idiot would know to stay masked during a surge. But the OP has an in-country test requirement to be executed from 4-7 days after arrival. Then the OP also has another test a day before flying back to the US.

I'll pile on what travel4fun said. Look for a travel insurance policy, they will cover the quarantine cost as long as that policy is the PRIMARY insurance.

Thanks all for the replies - just FYI - Have covered every possible base with travel insurance that includes hospital stay coverage, not writing off the health risk by any means, but we live in Florida - so I am CERTAIN there is less exposure risk in Switzerland than in the unmasked, unvaccinated (germ-pit) city in which I reside. I am just trying to think through all of the "what if" scenarios so that I have a plan just in case. I do have covid travel test kits (plus extras) that I will bring and can test myself at any time. I had not considered the benefit of testing sooner than later - so appreciate that feedback greatly.