Christmas travel will increase the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, a top US expert warns.
“There’s no doubt about this, [Omicron] has an extraordinary capability of spreading,” US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci.
Dr Fauci, who advises the US government on the pandemic, said the variant was now “raging through the world”.
Countries are tightening measures as the heavily mutated variant spreads.
In Europe, France and Germany are among those to issue travel restrictions and the Netherlands has imposed a strict lockdown over Christmas.
Governments are also ramping up their Covid booster vaccination programmes after researchers said the additional shot could provide around 85% protection against severe illness.
Europe again faces an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, prompting governments across the continent to impose tight restrictions and partial lockdowns.
While some countries targeted the unvaccinated, other governments launched programs to vaccinate minors.
United Kingdom
For the third day in a row, the UK on Friday, December 17, achieved a record of 93,045 COVID-19 cases driven by the more transmissible Omicron variant.
In England, the chief medical officer urged people to avoid gatherings in the festive period.
People cannot get into nightclubs and sports stadiums without certificates that prove that they have been fully vaccinated or have had a recent negative test. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also take the same measures.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a massive increase in booster vaccinations for all adults by December after he warned that the country faced a surge of infections from the Omicron variant.
Denmark
Denmark recorded a considerable surge in COVID-19 infections driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant so that it will close theatres, cinemas, concert halls, amusement parks, museums and art galleries.
Restaurants and shops will allow a specific number of people to get in them, and restaurants will have to close by 23:00.
The government asked people to work from home, limited the number of the audience in the concerts, and committed people with face masks.
Ireland
To reduce the number of COVID-19 cases in England, the government announced an 8 pm curfew in pubs. In addition, it limited the capacity of the whole indoor events.
“Omicron was going to cause a huge increase in infections with more than a third of the country’s new cases due to the new variant,” said Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
People will follow the new measures until at least one and a half months from now.
The country already tightened December 7 by limiting the available hours in nightclubs and social distancing in pubs, restaurants and hotels.
Indoor and sports venues impose masks and limit the capacity to 50%. Moreover, a vaccine certificate or a new negative COVID test is already required to enter leisure venues.
Switzerland
Unvaccinated people in Switzerland are restricted, as they will not go to restaurants, cultural venues, or other indoor events. And family gatherings will only include 10 people or less.
Swiss voters approved the so-called ‘COVID-19 law’ in a referendum on November 28.
The in-force legislation includes a pandemic recovery package and the application of a controversial COVID certificate.
France
The French government urged people to get tested and avoid huge gatherings at Christmas due to the high number of COVID-19 infections.
“Unvaccinated people will go under tight restrictions, and a vaccine pass will be considered in the new year,” said Prime Minister Jean Castex.
France already has closed the nightclubs since December 10 for a month to curb the fast surge of COVID-19 infections.
From January 15, all adults will need a booster jab at least seven months after being fully vaccinated to keep their health passes. People over 65 years old will need one to extend their health passes from mid-December.
In addition, from January 30, all caregivers and firefighters in France should receive a third dose. French minister of health Olivier Véran announced the new provision on Saturday, December 18, stating that there are now “several hospital clusters of the Omicron variant,” especially in Paris.
According to the latest figures, 76.8% of France’s population are fully vaccinated.
Italy
Italy imposes a 5-days quarantine on unvaccinated EU citizens as part of tightening the measures of COVID-19.
It asks vaccinated visitors from EU countries to get a negative test to circulate freely in Italy within 24 hours of arrival.
The Italian government, on December 6, imposed new restrictions on the unvaccinated people with the issuing of a “super” health pass.
People who have proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 can get in indoor restaurants, cinemas, and sporting events. The vaccine is now compulsory on school personnel, law enforcement, the military, and anyone working in healthcare settings.
Using local transport requires a basic health pass that includes a negative COVID-19 test.
Austria
On Sunday, December 12, Austria ended its lockdown on People with a “2G” pass, which means they got the COVID-19 vaccine.
People who don’t have the certificate can go nowhere but the work and any other essential purpose.
FFP2 mask is required on public transport and indoor, as an 11 pm curfew is imposed on the restaurant.
Dozens of thousands of people protested in Vienna, rejecting the mandatory vaccination and other COVID-19 measures.
The Austrian government, which is disappointed with the low percentage of people taking the vaccine, has decided to force adults to take COVID vaccinations from February.
Russia
On Monday, December 13, the Russian government eased restrictions imposed on unvaccinated people that were imposed a month earlier. As vaccine uptake remains low, the public is outraged all across the country.
The speaker of the State Duma, Russia’s lower parliament house, announced the cancellation of the decision that prevents unvaccinated people who don’t have a health pass from access to domestic and international flights and trains.
Even though Russia was among the first in the world to approve and roll out a coronavirus vaccine a year ago, less than 50% of Russian people received full vaccination so far.
Norway
Norway decided to limit the gatherings in the private homes with 10 people only as a rsult of the increase of COVID-19 cases.
The government urged the citizens to work from home and to apply social distancing in restaurants. In addition, it determined the attendance at public events with 50 people.
The new restriction will last for a month, but the gatherings would include 20 people on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said: “We consider the situation as being serious. Both Delta and Omicron infections are increasing in Norway. The number of people who are admitted to hospitals and intensive care units is increasing.” The government also urges people to wear face masks on public transportation and in shops and shopping malls.
Anyone travels to Norway should get tested for COVID within 24 hours, either at the border, at a public test station or by self-test. If a rapid test comes back positive, a traveller must take a PCR test within 24 hours.
Poland
The Poland government obliges health workers, teachers, police, military, and firefighters to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
“After March 1, vaccination will be a condition for performing jobs in these sectors,” Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said.
Nightclubs will shut down, and restaurants and theatres will reduce their customers from December 15, amid rising infections.
Germany
Germany’s parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of a vaccine mandate for hospital and care workers.
Germany aims to vaccine at least 75% of its population, but it could vaccinate 68.9% of them entirely.
Some regions in Germany started giving the vaccine to 12-year-old children or less.
Czech Republic
Several thousand people protested through the Czech capital on Sunday, December 12, in refusal of mandating a COVID-19 vaccination.
The Czech Republic entered a 30-day state of emergency on Friday, November 26, reporting record-high COVID-19 cases.
Health Minister Adam Vojtech said: “As part of the government’s anti-COVID measures, all Christmas markets across the country are banned. People will not be allowed to drink alcohol in public places.”
Culture and sports events will include up to 1,000 people vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19.
Belgium
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, on Friday, December 3, decided that kindergartens and primary schools would close a week. Children from the age of six must wear masks.
Belgian people marched against government plans to make vaccination compulsory for health workers early next year.
Greece
Greek government approved vaccinating 5 to 11-year-old children from December 15, amid a surge in COVID-19 infections.
The Greek lawmakers approved the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for people over 60 in response to a surge in cases.
Portugal
Portugal has tightened pandemic restrictions on December 1 to limit the new surge in infections. Face masks have also become mandatory.
Restaurants, cinemas, and hotels in Portugal demand a digital certificate that proves their customers’ vaccination or recovery from COVID-19.
Around 86% of Portugal’s population are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
