Faced with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, countries in Europe are reacting - or anticipating - by taking increasingly radical measures.
While Emmanuel Macron brings together the Health Defense Council on Monday, our neighbors are already resorting to a wide range of restrictions.
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Return of the mask in Spain and curfew in Catalonia
Yet one of the world immunization champions, Spain has recorded, like its neighbors in recent days, a spectacular increase in the number of new infections. The central government adopted a decree on Thursday morning making it mandatory to wear masks once again outdoors throughout the country. This decision was announced old, after an extraordinary meeting between the government of Socialist Pedro Sánchez and the presidents of the 17 regions of the country, the only ones competent in health matters.
In Catalonia, a night curfew is established from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. in all towns with more than 10,000 inhabitants where the incidence exceeds 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over seven days, i.e., in practice, all of those here currently.
This curfew, requested by the autonomous government in Barcelona, came into effect on the night of Thursday to Friday, and includes the closure of discos and the limitation of private meetings to a maximum of 10 people for a period of at least 15 days.
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Covid-19: after Spain, Italy restores the wearing of compulsory masks outside
Surgical mask in Greece and FFP2 in Italy
In Greece, wearing a mask indoors and outdoors also becomes compulsory from Friday until January 2.
"
There is a lot of movement during the holiday season, and large crowds gather outside,
" said Minister of Health Thanos Plevris.
All public Christmas and New Year celebrations have been canceled.
In Italy, the surgical mask will also become compulsory again outside, the government announced Thursday, without specifying from what date.
The Italian government added that the mask providing superior protection, the FFP2, would become compulsory for going to the cinema, the theater, sporting events or on public transport.
Teleworking in Portugal and Sweden and closing of bars and nightclubs
"
The Omicron variant is already dominant in Portugal
", with a number of cases "
estimated at 61.5% on December 22,
" according to a press release specifying, however, that mortality and hospitalizations in intensive care remain "
stable
".
Country with one of the highest vaccine coverage rates in the world, Portugal recorded 10,016 new cases in 24 hours and 10 deaths linked to Covid-19, according to the latest report from the health authorities published on Saturday.
Read also "It's blackmail": the vaccine pass pushes the unvaccinated to their limits
The day before, the country had reported 12,943 new contagions, which was a record since January 29.
Faced with the new variant, Portugal has adopted a series of new epidemic control measures including, in particular, compulsory teleworking, the presentation of a test to attend a show or a sporting event, as well as the closure of bars and nightclubs.
In Sweden too, teleworking should be favored and public events bringing together more than 500 people should require a vaccination pass.
In Belgium, cinemas and theaters closed
In order to fight against the new wave, cinemas and theaters are closing in Belgium from today until January 28.
Demonstrations are also taking place this Sunday in Liège and Brussels to protest against this closure of cultural places.
The Belgian government has also lowered the gauge in shops and invited customers to do their shopping alone.
Other restrictions have been put in place, such as the closure of recreational parts in swimming pools and sports halls, and the closure to the public of adult-level sports competitions.
In the UK, Johnson meets his ministers on Monday amid tense political backdrop
In the island country, one of the first hard hit by the Omicron variant, the number of new contaminations has exploded to pass the 100,000 new daily cases mark at the start of the week. So far Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have announced tougher restrictions. But in England, Boris Johnson is procrastinating. The British leader is due to convene his government on Monday. If he decided not to tighten the screw for Christmas, he urged the population on Friday, on the occasion of his wishes, to be vaccinated and to receive the dose of "booster".
The head of government faces opposition from the Tories on his own side to further restrictions, unlike Labor pushing in this direction.
"
BoJo
" had already had to rely on the support of the left party for the "
Plan B
" set up 15 days ago, when 99 Tory deputies anti-health measures had refused to follow him, during a sling unpublished.
Read alsoA Christmas in the shadow of the Omicron variant
To cope with the paralysis of the country caused by the isolation of positive people and contact cases, the government has lowered the duration of isolation for vaccinated people who have contracted the coronavirus from 10 to 7 days.
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The test in addition to the vaccination pass to enter Denmark and Austria
It is one of the most criticized measures.
Now, some countries are choosing a reinforced vaccination pass for certain situations: a complete vaccination schedule is no longer sufficient, you must also have a negative test.
Denmark announced Thursday that travelers entering its territory will have to provide a negative test, even if they are vaccinated.
All foreigners and non-residents wishing to enter the country will be required to present a negative PCR test within 72 hours or an antigen test within 48 hours, the Danish Ministry of Health said in a statement.
This measure will enter into force from December 27 and at least until January 17, 2022. It follows similar announcements by neighboring countries in recent days, including Sweden and Finland.
In Austria, a test is also required for fully vaccinated people.
On the other hand, only PCR tests are admissible, and not antigens.
3G + and 2G + regime in Germany and Switzerland
The choice of a reinforced vaccination pass echoes the regime set up in Germany, a regime called “
2G
”, “
2G +
” or “
3G
” and “
3G +
”, the G referring to the German terms “
geimpft, getestet, genesen
” , namely "
vaccinated, tested, recovered
", reports
BFMTV
.
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The 2G + category is the most restrictive: in addition to a vaccination or recovery certificate, you must present a negative test or the certificate of a booster dose.
This regime is required for major sporting or cultural events but differs depending on the region.
In Switzerland, a series of new measures have been implemented since December 20, including the 2G + regime, imposed "
where you can neither wear a mask or eat while sitting
", such as in nightclubs.
