Countries will celebrate Christmas again amid restrictions to contain variants of COVID-19

In recent days, several countries around the world have decided to tighten restrictions and resort to closures and measures to stop the increase in COVID-19 infections, in particular, of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, on key dates such as the Christmas holidays and New Years, with a high rate of travel and leisure activities.

In Europe, people traveling to Greece during the Christmas holidays must carry, in addition to their COVID passport, a negative PCR test carried out 72 hours before entering the country or a rapid test carried out 24 hours before.

The country’s measure applies to all citizens of the European Union and the Schengen Area, as well as to the majority of citizens of the 42 countries whose entry into Greece is allowed, it refers EFE.

For its part, Russia has imposed restrictions on the entry of foreigners from Hong Kong and some southern African countries. In addition, they have introduced a 14-day quarantine for travelers from South Africa and neighboring countries, and reduced the validity of PCR tests from 72 to 48 hours.

President Vladimir Putin described the epidemic situation in the country as “tense” and asked the Russians for more precautions in the face of the New Year celebrations, which could trigger infections. In Russia – he said – people “forget all the precautions after the first toast”, but “now it should not happen like this.”

The German government of Olaf Scholz has accelerated the acquisition of millions of additional doses of vaccine, since after successive pressures on the population to be immunized, it has found that it does not have enough reserves to face the winter campaign.

In some Nordic countries, restrictions on travelers are also extended.

Finland requires a recent negative PCR test for travelers from the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark and Nigeria, whether or not they are vaccinated, a measure that will be extended next Tuesday to all countries that do not belong to the Schengen zone.

In addition, it has extended the restrictions on hospitality to many of the country’s regions, including Lapland, Finland’s main Christmas tourist destination, collects AFP.

These limitations include the prohibition of serving alcoholic beverages after 5:00 p.m., unless bars and restaurants require their customers to obtain a European COVID certificate at the entrance of the premises.

The restrictions will be tightened even more as of December 28 for a period of three weeks and will especially affect cocktail bars and nightclubs, whose capacity will be reduced by half and will have to close at 18:00.

By contrast, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ruled out new measures before Christmas, after Conservative MPs were against limiting population movements. However, the Government does not rule out applying more restrictions next week, once the experts are clearer about the impact of the extension of the omicron variant in the health system.

But in France, vaccinated people in the United Kingdom are already asked for a negative test (PCR or antigens) of less than 24 hours, instead of the current 48, something that was already required of those not vaccinated, while it will be necessary to justify the trip , which implies limiting access to French residents and their families.

The measure will affect thousands of Britons who usually spend the end of the year holidays in France, especially in ski resorts.

Meanwhile, in France, this Wednesday began vaccination for all children from 5 to 11 years old, on a voluntary basis. Likewise, Paris wants that, given the increase in infections by the omicron variant, after the holidays at the beginning of January, the companies in which the teleworking regime is possible increase this system to three or four days a week.

The French Executive will present next Monday a bill to transform the COVID certificate, which is required to go to a bar, a restaurant, a cinema, a show or a stadium, into a vaccination certificate.

In Italy, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said that mandatory vaccination is not on the table, although it is not ruled out. Among the measures that will be imposed, he specifically referred to the use of outdoor masks, possible tests to participate in some activities or the reduction of the validity time of the health certificate.

And in the Netherlands, the current nighttime lockdown whereby all non-essential activity closes at 5:00 p.m. will be extended until January 14, and the holiday closure of primary schools will be brought forward one week due to the threat of the variant omicron.

Additionally, the maximum number of guests to a home is limited to four people over the age of 13 per day, and no exceptions to this rule will apply for Christmas or New Year’s Eve family gatherings.

Restrictions in America

On the American continent, Québec is going to apply limits to the number of people in bars, restaurants and shops.

In New York, which in 2020 was the global epicenter of the pandemic, Brooklyn restaurants are closing one after another due to an increase in infections.

On Broadway, the famous theater and musical district, there are scenes of panic due to the cancellation of functions due to positive cases in the cast.

And in Latin America, several of the countries have chosen to reduce capacity and other measures, but one of the most prominent cases is Peru, which, after detecting omicron cases, banned parties and family gatherings and changed the ringing hours. curfew, which will now be from 11 at night nationwide on December 24, 25 and 31, in addition to January 1, refers Infobae.

In Asia, South Korea reinstated mandatory closing hours for cafes, restaurants, cinemas and other public places on Saturday, and private gatherings must be limited to four people.

Relaxation in Austria

However, in Austria there will be some relief. The country will relax confinement for the unvaccinated during the Christmas holidays and New Year’s Eve, thus allowing celebrations of up to ten people.

The Austrian Government lifted a 20-day general confinement on December 12, although it has remained in force for those not vaccinated, who, in addition, as of February face fines of up to 3,600 euros if they are not immunized.

In the current situation, people who are not vaccinated can only leave their homes to go to work, make essential purchases, take a walk or exercise. And they are prohibited from entering any non-essential entertainment or shopping venues.

Global cases are reduced

All these measures are imposed despite the fact that global cases of COVID-19 fell by two percent last week, there has recently been a sharp increase in infections in many Western European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and Spain , according to the weekly epidemiological report of the World Health Organization (WHO).

From December 13 to 19, 4.1 million cases were confirmed in the world, so that the accumulated in two years of pandemic rises to 274 million, according to data from the Geneva-based agency, while deaths have been of more than 5.3 million.

In America, which these days will exceed the barrier of 100 million accumulated cases, 904,000 infections were registered last week, a decrease of 10%, while in East Asia the positives rose 12%, and in the Middle East and South Asia they were down 12%. (I)