Swiss President Tests Positive for COVID-19

Swiss President Ignazio Cassis tested positive for COVID-19, the government announced on Thursday.

The government stated that Cassis, who is also a foreign minister and a medical doctor, took a PCR test on Wednesday and went into isolation on Thursday upon receiving a positive result.

In the same vein, it pointed out that the president is working from home and had cancelled plans to attend events including the Munich Security Conference on Friday and Saturday.

“Mr Cassis has no symptoms and is in good health. He will continue his work from his home until Sunday. Until then, he will not participate in any planned events and will therefore not attend the Munich Security Conference, which will take place on Friday and Saturday this week,” the government said.

This was shortly after the government press conference in Bern when Cassis announced the lifting of most Covid restrictions on public life after 23 months of curbs.

On Wednesday, the government announced lifting the restrictions as fears warned that a spike in infections, fuelled by the Omicron variant, would overwhelm the healthcare system.

However, it stressed the importance to wear masks on public transport and at healthcare facilities will remain in force.