Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark are just some of the latest European Union and Schengen countries that have decided to ease entry rules, at least for travelers from other EU countries and the Schengen area.
The lifting of restrictions was due mainly to three factors. First, the Omicron variant is a milder version of COVID-19 and is less of a concern. Secondly, citizens are tired of constant restrictions, and thirdly, these countries have come to the conclusion that travel restrictions do not prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Among the latest countries to take such a step is Sweden, which since February 9, allows entry without restrictions to all travelers from the EU and EEA countries, including those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who have also not been ill with this virus in the past. .
Announcing the decision on February 7, the Swedish government said the move is part of a work to phase out measures to combat the COVID-19 infection, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.
“The decision was made following an assessment by the Swedish Public Health Agency that entry restrictions are no longer a proportional infection control measure,” the government said, adding that the lifting of these restrictions will bring great relief to many travelers, in particular those who work and lives in the northern border regions.
However, the country intends to maintain existing entry restrictions for travelers from third countries until at least the end of March.
Similarly, Finland has also lifted all internal border controls effective 1 February, in line with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s assessment that “travel has not played a significant role in the development of the epidemic in Finland and internal border controls can no longer be justified in terms of public health perspective.”
With regard to travel restrictions from third countries, the current measures will remain in effect until February 14, but may be extended further.
Norway, on the other hand, has lifted mandatory pre-departure testing for arrivals after the country’s authorities said travel restrictions had failed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Other EU countries have also eased entry restrictions, notably by abolishing mandatory pre-entry testing, following a recommendation from the EU Council published on January 25.