European countries are reintroducing some measures on COVID-19 to limit the increase in the number of cases of the highly infectious variant Delta. France has tightened travel restrictions, Spain and Portugal have reintroduced curfews in tourist areas, Greece has tightened restrictions on entry to restaurants, bars and museums, and the Netherlands has reintroduced restrictions on restaurants and nightclubs.
The rapid spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 across Europe has led to an increase in coronavirus cases among unvaccinated people. In just a few weeks, the outbreak has reversed the downward trend most European countries have reported since late spring, threatening to nullify recent progress in the fight against the virus.
France tightens border restrictions
In an effort to control the spread, French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday introduced a series of measures, including tightening border restrictions for unvaccinated travelers and people coming from high-risk countries that now include Britain under the French classification system.
On Twitter, European Affairs Minister Clement Bonn said that travelers arriving from the UK who had not been fully vaccinated could enter France only for important trips and must present a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of the trip. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers arriving from Spain and Portugal who are in France and on the EU Green List for travel must present a negative test within 24 hours of departure, but they are still free to enter. France for insignificant reasons.
In an effort to increase vaccine consumption, which has slowed in France, the government has ordered the use of the COVID-19 pass to enter bars, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, theaters, museums, cultural sites, theme parks, shopping malls and for domestic flights. or long-distance trains. The COVID-19 omission indicates that the person has been fully vaccinated, recovered, or recently tested negative for the virus. According to Le Monde, the ticket is available to anyone over 12 and should be introduced on July 21.
Spain is covered by the fifth wave of the pandemic
Meanwhile, in Spain, as the virus continues to gain momentum – especially among young and unvaccinated people – the country is facing a fifth wave of pandemics. In Catalonia, all businesses and events were closed at 12:30, and the local government limited public gatherings to 10 people. Currently, no more than 10 people gather in Valencia, and in more than 30 cities in the region there is a night curfew. The Spanish newspaper El País reports that night curfews may also be imposed in the Canary Islands.
According to Reuters, only people who have been vaccinated or recently tested negative for COVID-19 will be allowed in bars, restaurants, cinemas, theaters and other indoor spaces in Greece. The rules apply throughout the country, including the Greek islands. In Portugal, the city of Lisbon and Porto imposed a night curfew and limited the number of seats and restaurant hours.
The Netherlands regrets the rapid easing of restrictions
In the Netherlands, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, said that his government had made a mistake by taking so many measures as soon as the infection had risen sharply. “An error of judgment was made. What we thought we could allow, we really couldn’t, ”Mr Rutte said in The Hague.
“We are upset by this and apologize,” he told reporters.
The government said in a statement that “the level of coronavirus infection in the Netherlands has grown much faster than expected, as society opened almost completely on 26 June. Most cases of infection occurred in nightclubs and parties with large numbers of people.
As a result, restaurants and bars are introducing separate seating areas, and they will be closed from midnight until 6 am. Discos and nightclubs are closed again, and the country’s coronavirus pass scheme now requires the owner to have a negative result 24 hours before attending an event, sport or cultural event.
England lifts all restrictions on COVID-19
As some European countries reintroduce measures, Britain lifts all restrictions on COVID-19 on July 19, including a legal requirement to wear face masks in public, despite a call by the British Medical Association (BMA) to continue using face masks and requiring people to distance themselves. .
If you are traveling to Europe this year, always check the latest activities before planning any trips.