On 25th November (last Thursday), I did a day return to the UK because of urgent family crisis. I booked the flight the evening before and checked and completed all the necessary paperwork, both to enter the UK and return to Switzerland (PLF form and vaccination certificate).
There was no problem at all on the day and my PLF form was actually viewed by the Swiss border guards when I returned.
On Saturday the UK entered the red list with the requirement of a 10-day quarantine.
On Tuesday evening (30th November) I received an e-mail from the Vaud cantonal doctor's office slapping me with a 10-day quarantine (in accordance with a Federal regulation). I read the mail the following morning, 6 days into my theoretical quarantine. I tried phoning the number given in the e-mail all morning, without success.
I decided to submit a formal appeal against the decision, which I have had to send by mail (snail mail), as there was no other way of contacting the office.
In my opinion the decision was illegal and disproportionate. It was not in compliance with the Federal regulation, which only came into force 2 days after my return. Finally on top of it all, there was a requirement to report to the cantonal office 2 days after my return, which was impossible to do, as there was no quarantine in place at that time.
By chance an acquaintance of mine was on the same flight and I pinged him to check if he had also been nabbed, which he had.
Note this is not because we have been in contact with someone on the flight.
The swiss regulation was retrospective? Did they say on the 27th that, henceforth arrivals from the UK would have to quarantine for 10 days or did they backdate the effective date to any arrival from some date prior to the 27th (and if so which date ?)
Assuming the former then it's hard to see how anyone can force you (or your friend) into quarantine just because you happen to have been in the UK. Unless they can invoke some 'emergency power' to tell anyone to go into quarantine at any time (which is probable), but in that case they should reference the regulation.
If you have legal insurance it might be worth checking.
That's the basis of my appeal, that they are trying to apply the regulation announced on the 27th November retroactively with no legal basis for doing so.
Just as a side-note, the most dangerous point of my day trip was waiting in a long serpentine line at passport control in Geneva, with no attempt at social distancing at all.
Just to clarify, you entered and left the UK on the same day, the 25th of November? And they still slapped you with a full 10 day quarantine? I could understand them requiring you to take a test and to maybe do the whole social isolation thing with keeping your distance and wearing a mask around other people until the 10 days are up but this does seem a tad extreme. Mind you, I can understand the logic, even if I don't agree with it. I'm on day 2 of 10 and will be missing an important face to face meeting with my biggest client (currently trying to find a slot to reschedule but it's not looking good for December) as well as the company Christmas party (there's only 9 of us in the company). I was also signed up for my booster shot tomorrow, which I've also had to reschedule.
It would be really great if we could get as many people as possible vaccinated and actually follow the rules such as wearing proper masks in the proper way in crowded areas. The flight attendants on both my Lufthansa/Swiss flights had to tell certain passengers off several times and in one case threatened to remove them from the plane if they didn't stop fooling around. They then complied - until we were in the air, then moved on to a childish game of "quick, pull your mask up, matron is on the way". I really don't understand the point of being a selfish sod and and annoying people just doing their job.
Not quite the same situation, but perhaps helpful for some to know.
I arrived back from the US on Tuesday morning. This afternoon I received a text message saying that I must get a PCR test in the next 48 hours and submit the results to the Omikron Task Force.
Not sure. I didn't see the other thread -- if could you point me in the right direction I'll take a look and let you know.
The text didn't seem dodgy at all, and the testing place where I usually go (I'm a regular there...) was not surprised at all so I imagine they have seen others in my situation today. There was no charge for the test (the text indicated that this is at federal expense) and the testing location didn't seem fussed by that at all so I assume they are pretty sure they'll be getting reimbursed.
My husband and I are also in quarantine following a trip to the UK for the first time in two years to see my elderly mother. We arrived home on Monday 29th. We have both had to cancel Doctors appointments and our booster shots.
The most risk we undertook was having to hang around City Airport/Canary Wharf for a whole day waiting on PCR tests before our flight. I felt pretty fed up when I read a 20 Minutes notification this evening that consideration is now being given to lifting travel bans and quarantines to save the ski season. Suddenly Omicron poses a lesser threat than loss of revenue. I hope you get somewhere with your case. Your situation is unbelievably unfair.
"No quarantine list, increased testing obligation: From tomorrow, Saturday, December 4, 2021, all countries will be removed from the quarantine list. In order to continue to prevent the introduction of the new Omikron variant as far as possible, a stricter testing regime will now apply to all entries into Switzerland. "Because Omikorn has already been detected in Switzerland, the quarantine list is no longer necessary," Berset said. "Instead, a pre-entry testing obligation with a PCR or antigen rapid test will be introduced." This also applies to vaccinated and recovered persons. The testing obligation does not apply to cross-border commuters. If, after the National Council, the Council of States also calls for free tests, the Federal Council would implement this quickly. At the earliest, the Federal Council could decide this in the session on December 17. So the earliest tests could be free again would be Dec. 18. The tests must be paid for by the entrants themselves."
So does that mean those of us currently in quarantine will be released from tomorrow? I hope so, but doubt it.