Table 5.

Timeline of the events and measures taken by the Swiss Federal government. Compiled from the ordinances and media releases of the Swiss Federal Council, see https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/ documentation.html. Situation as of June 24, 2020

28 February	The Swiss Federal Council categorizes the situation in Switzerland as special in terms of the Epidemics Act. Events with more than
	1000 persons are prohibited effective immediately. Among other things, the Basel Carnival and the Geneva Motor Show are canceled.
13 March	The government announces the closure of the schools on Monday, March 16. Events with more than 100 people are prohibited.
	Restaurants, bars, and discos are limited to 50 people.
16 March	The Federal President declares the extraordinary situation, allowing the Federal Council to order the introduction of uniform measures
	in all cantons. All public and private events are prohibited. Shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities must close. The lock-down also
	applies to schools and businesses at which the recommended distance cannot be maintained (e.g., hairdressers and cosmetic
	studios). Only grocery stores and health facilities remain open. Border controls at the borders with Germany, Austria, and France
	were introduced, and entry bans imposed, albeit with exceptions. Border checks at the Italian border were already introduced
	at an earlier stage. Up to 8000 members of the armed forces were deployed to assist the cantons at hospitals and with logistics and security.
27 April	First step towards opening: hairdressers, DIY stores, and garden centers may resume operations with protection concepts.
11 May	Shops, restaurants, public markets, and museums may reopen. Primary and secondary schools can again teach on site.
6 June	Events with up to 300 people are permitted again. Mountain railways, camping sites, zoos, and leisure facilities may open.
	Secondary, vocational, and higher education establishments may resume teaching.
15 June	The borders to all states within the EU/EFTA area will be opened completely. Among other things, shopping tourism to Germany
	or Austria is permitted again.
19 June	Return from the extraordinary to the special situation. The cantons will have a greater say and more room for maneuver. In public
	spaces, the minimum distance is reduced from 2 to 1.5 m. Restaurants will be allowed to move their tables closer together, while
	at the same time the Swiss midnight curfew will be lifted. Meetings and events for up to 1000 people are again permitted. Masks are
	compulsory at rallies. The recommendation to work from home if possible is repealed.