Switzerland will lift nearly all of its coronavirus restrictions as fears that a spike in infections caused by the omicron strain will crush the health care system have diminished, Reuters reported.

The government said only the requirement to wear masks on public transport and at healthcare facilities would remain in force after the changes, which take effect on Thursday.

“The epidemiological situation continues to develop positively,” the government said in a statement. “Thanks to the high level of immunity in the population, it is unlikely that the healthcare system will be overloaded despite the continued high level of virus circulation. Thus,..the conditions are in place for rapid normalization of social and economic life,” it added.

More than 90 percent of Switzerland’s population of 8.6 million people have gained protection from the virus, having either recovered from COVID-19 or been vaccinated, officials note.

Despite tens of thousands of new infections reported daily, the health care system has held up well and the occupancy of intensive care units has declined.