(Credit: Basel.com)

Update: Swiss Federal Council allowed cultural events with up to 5 people.

The Swiss Federal Council has decided to take action and impose nationwide COVID-19 restrictions.

The new measures would start on Saturday, Dec. 12, and lasts until at least Jan. 20, 2021. The council has observed that in recent days, several cantons have taken or announced new measures. The Federal Council now intends to standardize and strengthen them.

Federal Council has warned that if the situation additionally worsens after Dec. 12, it will reconvene on Dec. 18 and impose tougher restrictions, such as full closure of restaurants and bars.

Switzerland is undergoing a second COVID-19 wave, which has so far stabilized on a very high level of new daily infections, pressuring ICU’s in the country. The country reported over 3,200 new COVID-19 cases on Dec. 8, 2020.