Many countries tend to regard Omicron as a common disease, rush to loosen the ban, British and Swiss experts express concern

Many countries have seen that the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) caused by the mutant virus strain Omicron (Omicron) has eased, and they have lifted the previous strict epidemic prevention regulations.

Experts have warned that it is too early to treat COVID-19 as a general disease, but some Europeans have loosened epidemic prevention measures overnight.

Since the battle against the epidemic has been going on for more than two years, the vaccination rate has reached a certain level. In addition, even if many people who have been vaccinated are infected, they will not develop into severe disease. In addition, the fatality rate and severe disease of Omicron have spread to many countries since the end of November. The rate is significantly lower than that of the mutant virus strain Delta. Many countries can't wait to reopen their economies and allow their people to live a normal life.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under great pressure over the "Partygate" scandal, and there are voices that he may want to ease public grievances by relaxing anti-epidemic measures.

The picture shows Johnson visiting Hopwood Hall College in Middleton, Greater Manchester on February 3, 2022.

The picture shows him in the science and technology center of the school.

(AP)

The U.K. also wants to rescind laws requiring people who have tested positive to be quarantined.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans this week to write off the restrictions earlier than expected.

Devi Sridhar, a professor of public health at Edinburgh University, said the government's decision would not be a "welcome surprise" for most people.

She thinks it is too early for the UK to do so.

She said those who tested negative were only in quarantine for five days, and she did not understand why more than 200 people were dying from the epidemic in the UK every day.

Fredrik Elgh, a Swedish public health expert from Umea University, also said that the epidemic is still putting a lot of pressure on society and that the country "needs a little more patience" and should wait for most weeks to "relax". He believes that Rui has enough money to continue to support testing, and there is no need to rush to stop providing free testing.

French new crown pneumonia epidemic: The picture shows on February 11, 2022, the artist performed a dance for the "French Carnival of Nice", one of the three major carnivals in the world.

This year's theme is the animal kingdom.

(AP)

European countries loosen

Sweden followed Denmark and Norway and other Nordic neighbors on the 9th to withdraw major epidemic prevention measures, no longer required people to maintain social distance, suspended vaccine passports, and no longer limited the number of indoor gatherings.

The government also seeks to no longer list COVID-19 as a major disease endangering social and public health from April 1.

73% of Sweden's total population has been fully vaccinated, and Denmark has an even higher rate of 80% in this regard. Therefore, despite the record high daily new confirmed cases in Denmark, it announced the lifting of epidemic prevention restrictions on February 1.

Finland relaxed the measures related to epidemic prevention on the 14th and officially lifted it on March 1st.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the peak of the outbreak caused by Omicron was within sight, a situation he said on Tuesday would allow the federal and state governments to meet next week to discuss the first steps in easing measures.

Japan's new crown pneumonia epidemic: The picture shows passengers inside the building of Haneda Airport on December 29, 2020.

(AP)

Reopening the country to protect the "money way"

Malaysia said on the 8th that it plans to fully reopen its borders from March 1, easing restrictions that have been in place for two years since the outbreak of the country in March 2020.

The UK also appears to be eager to reopen its doors for the country's economy.

The government announced on the 11th that passengers who have been fully vaccinated will not be tested on arrival in the UK.

France announced that from the 12th, all arriving passengers who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus will no longer be required to provide negative test results for the coronavirus after entering the country.

People who have been vaccinated from "green list" countries will not be tested on arrival and will be exempt from quarantine measures, "as they were before the Omicron variant."

Passengers who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 still need to provide a negative test certificate upon entry, while passengers from "orange list" countries who have not been vaccinated can only enter under critical reasons and must be tested upon arrival.

In response to the spread of the epidemic, the Japanese government still suspends all new entry of foreigners in principle until the end of February.

Japan's "Nihon Keizai Shimbun" said on the 12th that the government will open new entries to business personnel and international students within February, and the number of foreigners entering each day will gradually increase from 1,000.

Italy's new crown pneumonia epidemic: The picture shows a patient in a sub-intensive care unit in Rome on February 7, 2022, being examined by a doctor in a hospital.

(AP)

cheer for the national economy

The number of confirmed cases in Italy has continued to decrease in recent days. The government announced that nightclubs and taxis will end their six-week closure and reopen on the 11th.

These establishments will not be allowed to operate from December 30, 2021.

The country lifted regulations requiring people to wear masks outdoors on the 11th.

In addition, the government is studying the cancellation of the state of emergency at the end of March, and it is expected that the measures that must wear masks indoors will be cancelled at the same time.

Spain has lifted the mandatory outdoor wearing of masks on the 10th, but people who are in indoor public places such as transportation must still wear them; when it is impossible to maintain a safe distance (1.5 meters), people must also wear masks.

Covid-19 outbreak in the Netherlands: The picture shows a woman taking pictures at a marina in Amsterdam on February 4, 2021.

Usually, taking a canal cruise is one of the popular activities for tourists, but during the epidemic, all activities that can lead to mass gatherings have been suspended.

(AP)

The Netherlands said on the 10th that it aimed to lift most of the measures by the end of February.

The country's social distancing measures in public places were lifted at the end of February, but people still need to show proof of vaccination, recovery from the virus or a negative test when attending events.

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Restaurants and bars in the Netherlands will be open until 1 a.m. on the 18th.

When the lockdown is fully lifted at the end of February, theatres in the Netherlands can reopen, sports events can be fully resumed, and nightclubs and festivals can reopen, but all participants must be tested first.