On June 18, 2023, the Swiss population will vote on the extension of the COVID law until mid-2024. The referendum was initiated at the end of March 2023 by representatives of the "Mass-Voll" movement and the "Friends of the Constitution" association. The extension of some measures of the COVID law was decided by the federal government in order to be able to react quickly in case of a significant deterioration of the situation. It includes measures to protect particularly vulnerable people, as well as guaranteeing the import of medicines and federal support for the development of medicines against Corona and Long COVID. The Federal Office of Public Health supports the extension adopted by the federal government. Opponents of the COVID law argue that an extension would be unnecessary as the pandemic has been declared to be over by the federal government. If the extension of the law is rejected in a referendum, the law will expire in December 2023.
The federal government can continue to support drug development against COVID-19 and Long COVID if the law is extended.
Specifically, the following parts of the COVID law would be affected by an extension in the event of a favorable vote:
- The federal government can continue to import drugs against COVID-19, regardless of whether they have already been approved by Swissmedic.
- Federal funding for the development of drugs against Corona and Long COVID can be continued.
- If necessary, the federal government may require employers, to better protect particularly vulnerable individuals.
- Cantons may continue to be required to report hospital bed occupancy rates, and health care organizations may be required to report on their inventories.
- COVID certificates may continue to be issued. However, these are primarily used to ensure international travel; use within Switzerland is unlikely and will only be considered if there is a risk of congestion of the healthcare system.
- The SwissCovid app can be reactivated.
- The federal government can restrict admission, potential restrictions do not apply to cross-border commuters.
Supporters of the referendum state that these measures are unnecessary, the COVID certificate is discriminatory, and the possibility of reintroducing it must therefore be prevented. The federal government counters the arguments of the referendum committee by saying that at present almost none of the provisions of the law are still applicable and that nothing should change in this regard. The extension of the law only serves to be prepared for an emergency situation and to ensure the protection of the population in the event of an anew worsening of the pandemic.
