Coronavirus - Federal Council bans major events until March 15

The Swiss Federal Council has decided to ban any events with more than 1,000 spectators with immediate effect, until March 15.

Federal Council Alain Berset announces the ban of any major events. Screenshot live stream

Switzerland's Federal Council classifies the situation in Switzerland as a "special situation" in accordance with the Epidemics Act, Minister of Health Alain Berset has announced in a press conference this morning.

As a consequence, the council has decided that as of today no major event with more than 1,000 spectators is allowed to take place - including, of course, hockey games. The measure will remain in place at least until March 15.

The remaining two games of the regular season of the National League will thus be played without any spectators present, the SIHF announces. The league and all the clubs will decide in an extraordinary meeting on Monday, March 2, how they are going to deal with the playoffs, which are scheduled to start on March 7.

The remaining games of the Swiss League playoff quarterfinal series will also be played in empty arenas. The same applies to the playoff final of the MySports League. As for the semifinals of the Swiss League, the league assembly will also decide how to proceed there on Monday.

The ZSC Lions' CEO Peter Zahner already announced in today's edition of the Tages-Anzeiger that everything is possible in view of the playoffs and Monday's meeting: "Also that the playoffs will be played in front of empty stands - or even cancelled."

( 28 February 2020 | tme* )