In the UK and France it was decided to ease the holidays ahead, despite the high morbidity • In Germany, however, the "closure lite" has been extended and in Italy they are asking for cooperation
Christmas in the UK
Photography:
Reuters
While the daily mortality data from the Corona virus in some European countries are reaching new highs since the outbreak of the plague, governments across the continent are preparing differently for the end-of-year holiday period - Christmas and New Year.
The assessment in European capitals is that the full or partial closures have so far not proved their effectiveness in a sweeping way.
Therefore, most governments continue to exercise great caution ahead of the holiday season, allowing commercial activity to return to a certain routine, to prevent the collapse of national economies.
After about a month of national closure, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the abolition of the general closure in England and a move to a regional closure system that would be adapted to epidemic prevalence in the various counties, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would pursue their own Corona policy.
"Britain faces the worst recession in 300 years"
As part of the removal of the closure in the UK, shops, gyms, personal care businesses and places of entertainment will be reopened.
Religious and sports activities that are not allowed indoors are also allowed.
In Britain, there have been some 56,000 deaths so far, the highest number of corona victims in Europe.
The British Government's Treasury Office warned yesterday that the United Kingdom was facing the worst economic recession in 300 years, which could exacerbate the failure to reach a final agreement on Brexit terms.
French President Emmanuel Macron also announced this week some easing of the general closure - which will take effect this coming Saturday - although most of the restrictions imposed on the French population under the general closure imposed on the country will remain in place at least until December 25.
Shops, theaters, and movie theaters will reopen.
It will also be possible to make family visits during the holidays, and also to move from district to district without special permission.
It will be possible to hold religious ceremonies in which the number of the disabled will be limited to 30 people.
However, on December 15, a night curfew will take effect from nine in the evening until seven in the morning, except for Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Restaurants and schools will remain closed at least until January 20, and bars, cafes and clubs will remain closed.
"Get ready for a modest Christmas, without kisses and hugs"
Germany, which yesterday recorded the highest death toll since the outbreak of the epidemic (410), decided yesterday to extend the "closure lite" that took effect earlier this month into the end-of-year holiday period, compared to its members on the continent.
The number of people staying in the stores will be limited.
Also, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues will remain closed until at least December 20th.
Most traditional Christmas markets have also been eliminated.
The number of participants in home meetings will be limited, and people will be advised to enter a voluntary closure before family gatherings during the holidays.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte called on his countrymen to prepare for a "humble Christmas, without gatherings, kisses and hugs".
In recent days, the highest mortality rates from the corona virus have been recorded in Italy since the peak of the epidemic in March (722 yesterday), and the government in the country is expected to extend the regional closures beyond December 3 and into the holiday season.
Conte seeks to initiate a pan-European closure of ski resorts to prevent the spread of the plague - as happened earlier this year.
Italy and France have closed their ski resorts, but Austria and Switzerland have decided to open them up and allow ski tourism, in order to prevent economic harm to this major revenue industry.
In Poland yesterday, the number of victims of the daily epidemic was 674, in Russia - 507, in Ukraine - 229, in Romania - 168 and in Hungary - 106. Despite the epidemic in Europe and the US, the administration in Washington is considering reopening the US borders to EU citizens.
