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What’s changing in Switzerland this week

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What’s changing in Switzerland this week
It's 'back to school' time in Geneva and Vaud. Photo by AFP

From schools reopening to more frequent trains, here's what's set to change this week.

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On Monday, August 24th more schools are re-opening, masks are becoming compulsory in Basel, and more frequent train service between Switzerland and France is re-launched.

Here's the latest:

School starts in Geneva and Vaud

Schools in both French-speaking cantons started on Monday. And they both have similar rules: masks are only required for upper secondary classes when the minimum distance of 1.5 metres between people can’t be maintained.

In primary schools, students are not required to wear masks, but adults must do so when the distance of 1.5 metres can’t be maintained.

Schools in 22 cantons have resumed in the past two weeks, with similar regulations: mask mandate in high schools when the minimum distance can’t be maintained, but no such requirement in primary classes.

In two remaining cantons, Fribourg and Ticino, schools will re-open on August 27th and 31st, respectively.

READ MORE: Why are some parents in Switzerland ‘outraged’ about mask requirement in schools?

Masks are now compulsory in all Basel shops

From Monday, Basel becomes the first German-speaking canton to require face masks in all its shops.

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The measure also extends to bar and restaurant employees.

Photo by AFP

Basel is joining four French-speaking cantons - Geneva, Vaud, Jura and Neuchâtel - in requiring shoppers to wear masks

The federal government is leaving it up to cantons to decide whether to implement mask mandates.

Léman Express is resuming its early-morning service

From Monday, the Léman Express will again run between 5 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. to and from Switzerland and France.

The train will also run every 25 minutes between Coppet and Geneva from Monday to Friday.

The project of Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and France's national train system SNCF, the Léman Express comprises a network of 45 stations and 230 kilometres of track, extending beyond the Geneva into Vaud as well as France.

Photo by AFP

Like many rail links in Switzerland and France, it stopped running when the borders between the two countries closed in mid-March.
 

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