European countries are locking up amid new COVID-19 spike

European countries are locking up amid new COVID-19 spike
European countries are locking up amid new COVID-19 spike
Avatar of Harry Johnson
Written by Harry Johnson

European governments are rolling out new restrictions on social activities during the busy holiday season.

Fearing the hospitals could be overwhelmed by Omicron-strain patients amid new COVID-19 surge, European governments are rolling out new restrictions on social activities during the busy holiday season.

The Prime Minister of France, Jean Castex, yesterday announced a series of new curbs aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. New measures will come into force on January 3 and will remain in effect for at least 21 days.

The maximum size of mass gatherings will be limited to 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 outdoors, with a complete ban on standing concerts. A mask mandate will be reintroduced in city centers. Consumption of food and drinks in cinemas, theaters, sports venues, and on public transport, will not be allowed.

Businesses that can allow employees to work remotely will have to do so for at least three days a week.

Though having stopped short of preemptively shutting down schools, which are set to reopen next Monday, Franch government will evaluate whether such a measure might be necessary during a special meeting on Wednesday. In mid-January, parliament is set to vote on a bill to introduce a vaccination pass.

Greece also announced new rules for the January 3-16 period yesterday. The restrictions include a midnight curfew for bars and restaurants, a ban on serving standing customers, and a limit of six people per table, Health Minister Thanos Plevris said. People visiting public spaces or using mass transport will be required to wear high-protection masks.

The measures come on top of existing regulations, which banned Christmas and New Year festivities and prohibited unvaccinated people from visiting public venues.

In Germany, the restrictions announced last week came into force today. They introduced a cap of 10 people for private gatherings, which are allowed only for the vaccinated and the recovered. If one or more people have no proof of immunity, only two households are allowed to mix.

There is also a ban on large public gatherings, including outdoor New Year celebrations in popular streets and squares. The authorities have banned all firework displays in restricted areas to discourage violators, under the threat of fines.

As he was announcing the regulations, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed that his government and the leaders of federal states had agreed to put them in place after Christmas because previous experience had shown that “Christmas and Easter haven’t been great drivers of infections.”

Spain’s northern region of Catalonia last week imposed a nightlife curfew, limited social gatherings to 10 people, and capped the capacity of many public venues to either 50% or 70%. The holiday measures, which are to remain in place until at least January 7, are more restrictive than in other parts of the country and caused mass protests in Barcelona on Christmas Eve.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez failed to convince regional leaders to have a unified set of measures beyond a mandate to wear masks outdoors. Contrasting Catalonia, the region of Madrid focused on ramping up testing.

About the author

Avatar of Harry Johnson

Harry Johnson

Harry Johnson has been the assignment editor for eTurboNews for mroe than 20 years. He lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is originally from Europe. He enjoys writing and covering the news.

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