Positive COVID test in Switzerland while traveling
A traveler is planning a trip to Switzerland from Germany, arriving on September 4 and flying back to the US on September 19. They seek guidance on what to do if they test positive for COVID-19 before returning home, especially about hotel stays during quarantine and test requirements.
- You can check into a hotel during your quarantine even if you test positive, but confirm with local authorities or tourism offices for specifics.
- Consider getting a rapid antigen test at the airport before your flight; it’s faster and free compared to a PCR test.
- If you test positive, contact local tourism organizations; they may assist you with accommodation.
- For urgent questions, use the official COVID Infoline in Switzerland for accurate information.
AI-generated summary-
We (fully vaccinated with Moderna) plan to enter Switzerland (via rail from Germany) on 4 September then fly back to US on 19 September. We understand we must take COVID test no later than 72 hours prior to flight. But what happens if one or both tests positive? I understand it is a very very small chance due to vaccinated status but want to be clear what our next steps would be.
From everything I’ve read from all the authorities (and there is a LOT) we would need to stay in Switzerland and quarantine for 10 (maybe 14?) days.
But how do we do this? Can we check into a hotel using our vaccination cards and stay there for the duration? Or do we have to present a negative COVID test to even check into a hotel? I have spent many hours searching relevant web sites and internet and cannot find any guidance on this particular topic. Hoping someone has some information.
I have sent an inquiry to the US Embassy in Bern and awaiting replay. When/if I hear from them I will post their response.
Thank you!
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Hi Kim,
Tricky question. I did not find the answer to your question 100%, but I believe that these pages together might help you:http://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/isolation-und-quarantaene.html and http://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/empfehlungen-fuer-reisende/quarantaene-einreisende.html#1355154378.
According to them, you can stay in a hotel for the quarantine time.
Do you think these pages have answered your questions?
For more information regarding the Covid situation and restrictions in Switzerland: http://www.myswissalps.com/coronavirus
Ildiko
Thank you so much for your quick work! I had seen many of these pages but not all of the links. There is some interesting, new-to-me information that I’d like to highlight for others
1. FOPH (Federal Office of Public Health) document “Coronovirus: Tests” states that a positive result from a rapid antigen test “Initially only means that you are suspected to have been infected with coronovirus”. Next step after a positive rapid antigen result is to get a PCR test with confirms (or negates) the positive rapid antigen result. This helps me decide which of the tests to get prior to returning to US. Even though PCR is more expensive and time consuming I think it’s worth the extra (time, cost, and stress!) to not have to get two tests if antigen comes back positive.
2. The only mention I can find of hotels or holiday apartments being “suitable accomodation” for quarantine is on page 5 of FOPH document “Coronovirus: Entering Switzerland”. Unfortunately it appears that this comment is directed only at individuals (Swiss citizens or tourists) entering Switzerland that have been to a country with “variant of concern” in past 10 days and are unvaccinated. It is not directed at those that have a positive COVID test result. Were you able to find other references to hotels/holiday apartments being okay for those with positive test results?
3. Additional item to report: Tourist office in Interlaken (who are very responsive) today told me that they spoke to FOPH this morning and were told “no official hotel in the Jungfrau region that accepts people who have tested positive for Corona. You are responsible for finding a hotel yourself.” Well, therein lies the problem. . .
We just returned from Switzerland and I would just say that I would definitely get the free rapid antigen test first when at the airport. We are also all 4 vaccinated and we did this test at the airport 5 hours before our flight and tested negative and were on our way after only 13 minutes… and it was all for free. The people behind us chose the PCR test and I felt really bad when they were then charged 800+CHF when they could have just waited 13 min to see if they first tested negative with the rapid test.
Xpresson,
Which airport did you have your tests done? And if rapid antigen test is accepted to go back to US? I thought US requires negative PCR test. Our flight will be at 7:15am at ZRH and we plan to test the day before. Is the free rapid antigen test location located inside the airport? Thank you.
We were tested at Geneva airport (before flying to Zürich airport and then to USA), but I’ve seen on these forums that people have posted links for the testing site at Zurich airport. United told me the rapid antigen test was acceptable and it was. Very easy to just get the test while at the airport on the way out of town.
Yes I saw the link. Thank you.
Thank you, Xpresso, for sharing your experience! I am glad this worked out so well for you. It is good to know that the rapid test only takes 15 – 20 minutes for results. The website for Zurich airport testing is confusing, saying the rapid test results are available 15 – 20 minutes “after delivery”. This statement comes after a sentence that describes a courier needing to deliver test material to an outside lab so it wasn’t clear that there was no courier involved in getting results from rapid test. Your post cleared up that confusion nicely.
We are likely being overly anxious about this but our preference is still to get the test three days before departure. That way we have time to make other plans (including flight cancellation) should one of us test positive. Upon advice of the tourist office we will take our tests at Apotheke Dr. Portmann in Interlaken.
My question about what to do if we get a positive result still remains.
Heart Voyage, CDC materials make it clear that US entry requirements are either PCR or rapid antigen so that’s what the airlines will enforce. That is good news!
Hi there,
in case you have not seen it yet, Xpresso has written about his/her experiences before the flight back to the US, you’ll find it here: http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/does-the-corona-virus-affect-trips-to-switzerland/page/23
Regarding the positive test: the According to my understanding, the ‘Entering in Switzerland’ page is not only for Swiss residents and it also mentions ‘go immediately to your home or to other suitable accommodation (e.g. a hotel or holiday apartment)’ for quarantine.
But for an official answer I recommend you to call +41 58 464 44 88 from 6am to 11pm, 7 days a week, this is the official Covid – Infoline in Switzerland.
I totally comprehend your concern and it is always better to be prepared, especially nowadays. I am sorry I could not give you an official answer. I keep searching for the answer, I let you know if I find anything.
Ildiko
Hi Kim! Good to hear you’re planning a new trip to Switzerland :-)! Will you be staying in Wengen again?
It’s frustrating indeed that there’s no answer to your specific question yet. There should be clear tourist guidelines for the scenario of a positive test in Switzerland. Your best bet is the official infoline mentioned by Ildikó. I hope they can help you out.
There’s one more tip I can think of. In case you do get a positive test result, contact the local/regional tourism organization (e.g. Interlaken Tourismus, or, if applicable, Wengen Tourismus). I know you already contacted Interlaken Tourismus, but I guess they will try to help you out while you’re there. I’d think they feel responsible for their tourists, especially those that have gone above and beyond to be prepared for all scenarios. And if you really get stuck, reach out to us through our forum and we’ll also try to help you look for suitable accommodation.
I hope you’ll receive useful answers, and that you’ll have a wonderful time back in Switzerland.
Annika and Ildiko, I am very grateful for your hard work on this and for the hot line number!
As for Interlaken Tourismus, so far they tell me they can’t help. But perhaps, should our quandary become factual rather than theoretical, they could and would.
What I have done to set myself more at ease is to buy a short term membership from CovacGlobal.com. They have an expensive but very thorough program that enables them to perform a “medical evacuation” to members that requires only a positive COVID test and one of the symptoms recognized by World Health Organization (cough, headache, etc.) Unlike regular medical evacuation insurance, members do not have to be hospitalized in the country they are visiting. They are picked up and flown via air ambulance private jets anywhere they want to go. In our case we would be picked up in Wengen and transported via rail/ground and jet back to our home in California. The whole process should only take 24 hours. The cost for our family plan (two persons) is $1890 USD. Which sounds like a lot — and it is — but such an evacuation if paid for without this membership would probably be $250,000 USD. So the membership price is a huge bargain if the worse comes to pass. And we decided it was better than being isolated to a hotel for 10 – 14 days, which would cost more than the membership anyway!
Now I am off on another concern which is COVID-related but different in nature (and likely of interest to many MySwissAlps participants) therefore I will open a new thread. Thank again!
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