Among regulations that Switzerland’s Italian-speaking canton introduced in a bid to curb coronavirus outbreaks on its territory is a ban on gatherings of more than five people in either public or private.

All sporting activities involving groups are also prohibited, except for children up to the age of 16. Religious ceremonies such as weddings and funerals are still possible, with a limit of 30 people.

Ticino’s measures are not as stringent as those implemented earlier in November in Geneva, Vaud, Jura, Neuchâtel, Fribourg and Valais, which are experiencing an alarming spike in coronavirus cases and hospitalisations.

In those cantons, bars and restaurants are closed, and in Geneva all non-essential shops and businesses are not operating.

However, Ticino aligned itself with the French-speaking cantons in that its measures go beyond those introduced nationally on October 29th.

READ MORE: Switzerland's new coronavirus measures explained

Federal mandate includes the requirement to wear masks outdoors in all urban areas where “the concentration of people does not allow the necessary distances to be respected”.

There is also an 11 pm curfew for bars and restaurants, the closure of nightclubs and discos, as well as the limit of 10 people for private gatherings and 50 for public events.

Several Swiss-German cantons also implemented additional measures. 

Obwalden limits public events to 30 people. The ruling applies to public events indoors and out, but not to political assemblies. The same measure is already in force in Schwyz.

In Lucerne, erotic salons are closed and masks are required in cars for people who don’t come from the same household — measures which also go beyond those mandated nationally.