File photo: CGTN

GENEVA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland reported 552 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases on Monday, the smallest increase in the past two weeks.

Data shows that this is the fourth day of decline in newly confirmed cases in the country. On April 2, the reported number was 1,128, and the following three days saw a rise of 1,036 cases, 975 and 822 cases, respectively.

The figures from the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) showed that as of Monday, there were a total of 21,652 COVID-19 cases in Switzerland, a country with a population of 8.5 million.

The Swiss Federal Council is expected to discuss on Wednesday scenarios for ending the confinement rules now in place. However, health officials in the country argued that only when the number of infected people and those admitted to hospital are clearly falling could softening the rules be considered.   Switzerland reported its first case on Feb. 25. On March 16, the country declared an "extraordinary situation" and ordered a ban on all mass gatherings as well as all non-essential businesses and cultural events.