COVID-19 - How to protect yourself and others

In order to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 disease, it is necessary to act responsibly :

1. Isolation when you are suffering from an illness that might be caused by the coronavirus, whether you've been tested or not.
2. Quarantine when you have been in close and non protected contact with a Covid-19 infected person.

You have been tested positive

• You will receive text messages from the Cantonal Doctor's Office to guide you through the steps to follow.
• You must immediately go into isolation.
  You will be contacted by the Cantonal Doctor's Office.
  You will receive a link to an online questionnaire to list the people you have been in close contact with during the past 48 hours before the onset of your symptoms.
• You will receive an personalised isolation decision from the Cantonal Doctor's Office.
  You will receive a new text message at the end of your isolation period.
• FOPH Instructions on isolation

You have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.

• You will receive text messages from the Cantonal Doctor's Office to guide you through the steps to follow.
• You must quarantine yourself immediately.
• You will receive an personalised quarantine decision from the Cantonal Doctor's Office.
• You will be invited to get tested as of the 7^th day of your quarantine. 
• You will receive a new text message at the end of your quarantine period.
• FOPH Instructions on quarantine

You are waiting to get tested and then waiting for your test results.

• You must place yourself in isolation while waiting for the test and while waiting for the test results.
• You should start preparing a list of the people you have been in close contact with during the past 48 hours.
• If your situation allows it, it is recommended that you inform your relatives and other people with whom you have been in close contact that you have symptoms and that you are waiting to be tested.

Test results

• A negative test result

You took the test because you had symptoms and you are not under quarantine. If your test is negative, you must stay home and may leave your home when you have been without symptoms for at least one day (24 hours).  If you are away from work for 24 hours, you do not need a medical certificate.  If you are away from work for a longer period of time, contact your doctor for a medical certificate.

If this test was done before the 7^th day of quarantine, and the test is negative, you must pursue your quarantine.

If this test has been carried out as of the 7^th day of your quarantine, if you do not present any symptoms, and this test is negative, your quarantine may be lifted. You can leave your home, but you must wear a mask at all times and keep a distance of 1.5 m from anyone you meet. This until the date of the end of your quarantine.

• A positive test result

See the above listed paragraph: You have been tested positive

Contact Quarantine Exemption

• Vaccination 

Vaccinated persons are exempt from quarantine following close contact with a confirmed case of SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) for 6 months from the day the vaccination was fully completed. 

• Cured COVID-19

Persons cured of COVID-19 are exempt from quarantine following close contact with a confirmed case of SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) for a period of 6 months from the end of isolation.

COVICOACH

The COVICOACH website has been designed to provide useful tips and information in order to make your daily life easier during your isolation or quarantine period.

Further information available on the FOPH website :

• FOPH guidelines for isolation or quarantine
• New coronavirus: SwissCovid app and contact tracing (FOPH)