The Swiss government has decided against further restrictions to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, even as faster-spreading variants have entered the country.

“The Federal Council has conducted a detailed analysis of the current epidemiological situation. This remains worrying due to the high level of infection and the appearance of two new virus variants in Switzerland,” the government said in a statement, according to Reuters.

“However, the Federal Council has come to the conclusion that the measures taken on Dec 18 [...] are appropriate and do not need to be tightened.”

Switzerland has recorded more than 440,000 cases, representing more than five per cent of the population, and nearly 7,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic, with experts saying the country's current death rate was among the highest in the world.