Some unusual measures taken in Europe regarding health passes

Efforts in Europe to encourage the population to get vaccinated, by requiring vaccination certificates, negative test results or proof of having suffered COVID-19, have created a veritable mountain of diverse and unusual regulations.

Here are some of the most puzzling ones out there as Europeans face a new winter holiday season with the threat of a pandemic looming over their heads:

“Pig slaughter party”In Czech Republic

Health passes are mandatory for many public events throughout Europe.

In the Czech Republic, the restrictions affect the “pig slaughter”, A tradition in which butchers also visit their customers’ homes to provide meat for Christmas meals.

The regulations stipulate that it is now necessary to have a pass to participate in these “pig slaughter parties”, Limiting these meetings to 1,000 people, while generally only some relatives of pig farmers attend.

Dance space in England

In England, these passes are compulsory in discos and pubs with a track or “dance spaces”.

However, this measure only applies from 01:00, so revelers can arrive before that fateful hour without being controlled by the porters.

The owners of these venues have opposed intervening on the dance floors to request passes from that time on.

Protected temples in Greece

Being able to attend Christmas masses in Greek churches remains an enigma. The government decreed that those who are not vaccinated must present a negative test certificate or proof of vaccination to enter the temples.

The Greek Orthodox Church, in which many of its clergy remain skeptical about vaccines, said it cannot carry out controls at the entrance of churches.

Politics and vaccines in Latvia

Elected officials are temporarily suspended from office if they do not have a certificate of vaccination in Latvia.

So far, 19 councilors have been suspended in the Baltic country. Their seats are temporarily assigned to their direct opponents in the consultation that led to their obtaining their positions.

A member of the national Parliament, Julija Stepanenko, co-founder of the Latvia First Party, has also been suspended.

Gasoline refueling pass in Lithuania

In order to go to the service station to refuel in Lithuania, it is necessary to have a health pass.

The previous regulation established that those who did not have a pass could not be in these establishments for more than a quarter of an hour.

But, those who do not have a pass can refuel abroad by paying with a credit card.

People without a certificate in Lithuania are also not allowed to enter large shopping malls, gyms or spas.

They can’t go into restaurants either, but they can buy take out or sit on the terraces, which is highly unlikely since temperatures in Vilnius are minus 10 ° C at this time.