Message from the Canadian Embassy regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Message from the Canadian Embassy regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic

1)      The Government of Canada announced new actions under Canada’s COVID-19 response:

https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/03/16/prime-minister-announces-new-actions-under-canadas-covid-19-response

https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2020/03/government-of-canada-to-provide-financial-assistance-to-canadians-abroad.html

2)      The Swiss Government declared ‘extraordinary situation’ and introduced more stringent measures. Please read all the details here: https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-78454.html

3)      The Government of Liechtenstein has also announced further measures to fight the coronavirus. Please read all the details here (in German): https://www.regierung.li/de/mitteilungen/223299/?typ=news

In an attempt to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), some governments have implemented special entry and exit restrictions for their territory. Before travelling, verify if the local authorities of both your current location and destination have implemented any specific restrictions related to this situation. These include entry requirements, quarantines, border closures and flight suspensions.
•             Monitor the media for the latest information
•             Contact your airline or tour operator to determine if the situation will disrupt your travel plans
Foreign diplomatic missions and consulates in Canada: https://www.international.gc.ca/protocol-protocole/reps.aspx?lang=eng

In addition, the Government of Canada Travel Advice for Switzerland and Liechtenstein has been updated to “Avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice”.  Please consult the latest travel advice related to COVID-19 from the Government of Canada at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is closely monitoring the situation, and Global Affairs Canada will provide updates as more information becomes available. Canadians should follow the advice of local health authorities and take precautions to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including frequent handwashing, practising proper cough and sneeze etiquette, and monitoring your health.

Updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada concerning COVID-19 are available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html.

For the latest advice from the Government of Switzerland and Liechtenstein regarding COVID-19, please visit:

Novel coronavirus – Swiss Federal Office of Public Health: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov.html

General recommendations for travellers:

Spending time in large groups or crowded areas can increase your risk of getting sick. Travellers should take precautions against respiratory and other illnesses while travelling, and seek medical attention if they become sick.

Travellers are reminded to follow usual health precautions:

Wash your hands:
•             Wash your hands often with soap under warm running water for at least 20 seconds.
•             Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available. It is a good idea to always keep some with you when you travel.

Practise proper etiquette while coughing and sneezing:
•             Cover your mouth and nose with your arm to reduce the spread of germs.
•             If you use a tissue, dispose of it as soon as possible and wash your hands afterward.

Monitor your health:
•             If you become sick when you are travelling or after your return, avoid contact with others, except to see a health care professional. When you see a health care professional, tell them:
•             your symptoms
•             where you have been travelling or living
•             whether you have had direct contact with animals (for example, while visiting a live animal market) or close contact with a sick person

If you feel sick during your flight to Canada or upon arrival, inform the flight attendant or a Canada Border Services Officer.

If you have already left and are no longer in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, please send an email to our Registration of Canadians Abroad email address at roca@international.gc.ca in order to end your registration in our system.
Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance should call the Embassy of Canada in Berne at +41.(0)31.357.3200, the Permanent Mission of Canada in Geneva at +41.(0)22.919.9200 or the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa directly at +1 613 996 8885 (collect calls are accepted where available).  An email can also be sent to sos@international.gc.ca.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. The Government of Canada takes the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously. It provides credible and timely information in its Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel or stay abroad. We encourage you to stay up to date on the latest travel advice and advisories for any country to which you plan to travel at www.travel.gc.ca, via the mobile TravelSmart application at www.travel.gc.ca/mobile, and via RSS feeds at www.travel.gc.ca/rss.  If you are travelling, you are encouraged to update your ROCA file with your travel dates, destination, and contact information.

You may also follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CanSwitzerland or https://twitter.com/CanadaGeneva

Please share this important information with other Canadian citizens in your area. Encourage them to register with ROCA (https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration) to enable them to receive important safety updates from the Government of Canada.

Embassy of Canada     Permanent Mission of Canada
Bern, Switzerland        Geneva, Switzerland