The uncertainty of being able to fly back to Switzerland is stopping me (as a 3 times vaccinated) from flying to my parents over Christmas. What if the PCR test mandated by Switzerland comes back positive and I am stuck in Holland for 10 days quarantine ?
Therefore my cunning plan... would it work to drive the car to the Basel airport and park on the French side ? France does not mandate a negative PCR test for vaccinated people. So after the holidays I fly back to the Basel airport but exit on the French side to get my car. And then drive to Switzerland. I'll risk a 200chf fine entering Switzerlanf without PCR test, but checks are incidental and anyway the dreaded quarantine stuck in a different country is avoided.
Would this be possible ? Or would booking a ticket from a Swiss address prevent this construction ?
According to the website of Basel airport you will be treated according to the Swiss rules if you have Swiss residence or Swiss citizenship. Friedrichshafen or Stuttgart would be a better idea. Or simply drive to Holland by car.
yes you can as cantonal authorities are not checking data from every single airport at the moment (and even then, it's just a lie on the PLF and a fine as you say), but it is not justified just for the risk of a PCR being positive. Go by car so that you can come back to switzerland on your own if you are sick instead of contaminating the whole airplane.
If you fill out the PLF, you will be checked - every single person with PLF receives a link with a obligation to upload a PCR test from your country of departure within 3 days “ Bitte laden Sie Ihren Einreisetest bis spätestens am Ende des 3. Tages nach Ihrer Einreise hoch.” and Swiss test certificate within 4-7 days after arrival “Bitte laden Sie ausschliesslich Ihr Covid-Testzertifikat hoch, keine Laborresultate oder andere Dokumente.”. You can risk it not to fill out PLF, but once that is done, you will be checked.
This actually didn't happen to me. I entered Switzerland by car with a submitted PLF and a PCR test, but the email from my canton only said that I had to submit the day 4-7 test result to them. Maybe different rules depending on whether you fly or drive, or where you have come from?
The mail did not mention the need for PCR test of the departing country, but once you log into the tool you will see it. They request both docs to be uploaded - did you try to log in?
Not yet, because my day 4-7 test is on only on Friday, so I just took the mail at face value and did nothing so far. I still have the pre-entry result if they want it though.
The process has no purpose. The renowned medical publication 'Blick' today wrote that Switzerland has the highest numbers with the exception of Denmark and Slovakia (who probably test more). Therefore spending time abroad is an inherently good thing and delays the state of equilibrium. Praise to those who travel and thus rid us of the plague (:
For me the airline checked the PCR test at embarkment, otherwise it was not checked at all. When I arrived in Zürich, the passport control guy didn't even ask to see the PLF. I didn't get any notification to submit the second test yet but I found the page where to do it so I will. Most cantons just don't have the resources to track this kind of thing which is less important than tracking actually positive people.
If a person were to fly abroad for the weekend, so out on Friday and back on Sunday, could they do the test in Switzerland on Friday and use it to return to Switzerland 2 days later?
This is a gray area, BAG webpage reports: On entry to Switzerland: On entering Switzerland, everyone aged 16 and over must be able to show the negative result of a PCR test (performed no more than 72 hours prior to entry). If necessary, you must have this test in your country of departure. Anyone unable to present a negative PCR test, or whose test result is more than 72-hours old, must take a test immediately on arrival (PCR or rapid antigen test).
Did you get a PCR test in Switzerland before departure and are re-entering Switzerland within 72 hours? When staying abroad for more than 24 hours, we highly recommend you get another test before returning to Switzerland.
"The following individuals are exempt from the obligation to be tested:"
"People traveling into Switzerland from areas bordering the country with which there are close economic, social or cultural ties. The following countries, areas and regions are considered “border areas”:
- Regions in Germany: State of Baden-Württemberg, State of Bavaria
- Regions in France: Region of Grand-Est, Region of Burgundy / Franche Comté, Region of Auvergne / Rhône-Alpes"
So flying to Basel airport and exiting the French side should work.
You could stay a night at a hotel in St Louis. I also really doubt that such information can be shared so easily or that cantons have the manpower to actually check all these forms.
Actually if you just give any french address and never mention Switzerland, how would anyone ever know? The french will surely not check addresses on PLFs and no PCR test is required to enter France.