Hundreds of protesters marched in Switzerland on Saturday against coronavirus restrictions after the health minister said the current restrictions would apply until the end of February.
About 500 protesters marched through the Swiss city of Zug to protest against what they considered to be unfair restrictions, Reuters report.
Switzerland tightened its rules last month and closed non-essential stores, requiring masks in stores that are open, and if possible allowing employees to work from home. and to limit gatherings to five people.
Reuters reports that protesters protest Swiss Health Minister Alain Berset’s extension of restrictions wore protective clothing and wore badges bearing the caption, “Wearing a mask is modern slavery.”
Most countries around the world affected by the coronavirus require their citizens to wear masks, as health officials have said that face masks help combat the spread of the virus.
“I want to make a statement that the citizens are in control and that the state should be there to serve its citizens,” a person from the protest told Reuters.
“I’m a grandmother,” another person said. “I do not want my grandchildren to grow up in a world where so much is forbidden.”
Switzerland does have lighter restrictions than some other countries, and their schools may still be open. However, there is a worldwide debate about how far coronavirus restrictions should go.
No arrests were made on Saturday’s protest as police stayed out of the protesters’ path, Reuters reported.
Switzerland has killed nearly 9,000 people and infected 530,000 people since the start of the pandemic, with new concerns surrounding a UK virus, which appears to be more contagious and potentially deadly.