France, yes to travel on December 24th. Curfew for December 31st
For Christmas Eve, transfers are exceptionally authorized due to a suspension of the curfew which is instead maintained on December 31st with a ban on street gatherings. Family gatherings must be limited: it is forbidden to gather more than 6 adults, precisely to limit the contacts responsible for the spread of the virus. The ceremonies in places of worship cannot be attended by more than 30 people. Schools will be closed from December 19th to reopen on January 4th. Surprisingly, again as a precautionary measure, the premier Jean Castex he authorized not to go to school as early as Thursday 17 December, precisely to respect the eight days of “confinement” before Christmas. It is not an obligation but rather a recommendation to avoid a rebound of infections during the holidays.
Germany, for Christmas yes to meetings with 4 people in addition to their own family
Germany has accelerated the restrictive measures against Covid. “The measures we have put in place so far are not enough,” the Chancellor admitted last Sunday. Hence the decision to move from a soft lockdown to a hard lockdown, in force since this Wednesday: closed the shops and mainly also the schools and kindergartens, companies are called to favor smart working at the highest level, for private meetings is a ‘ceiling’ of five people has been established for two families, excluding children under 14. Only in the days of the Christmas holidays it will be possible to meet four people in addition to their close family unit. In places of worship, religious ceremonies are permitted only if the minimum distance of one and a half meters between the faithful is guaranteed. Among the most debated measures, the prohibition of singing in church: even here masks remain a must. The newly started lockdown will remain in effect until January 10, but further extensions are already being discussed.
Coronavirus, is a massacre of the elderly also in Germany. But the first vaccines will go to them
by our correspondent Tonia Mastrobuoni
December 18, 2020-
United Kingdom, “Christmas Buble” from 23 to 27 December
From 23 to 27 December there will be five days of easing of restrictions to allow families to celebrate Christmas. The so-called “Christmas Bubble” authorizes meetings within a bubble of up to three families both inside private homes, where they can spend the whole night, and outside, in spaces such as parks and gardens. Together, however, they will not be able to go to a restaurant or pub. During those 5 days there will be no restrictions on travel within the national territory. The bubble must respect a social distance of 2 meters with other people met outside. In Scotland, the maximum number of exponents of a bull will be 8 people, excluding minors under the age of 12, although the authorities recommend that it be “as small as possible”. In northern Ireland the bill will be authorized from 22 to 28 December. In Wales the bubble is limited to 15 people from two families indoors, which can be up to 30 outdoors. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will keep the promised easing because “banning Christmas is inhumane”, but has called for celebrating with a smaller number of people: “A smaller Christmas is safer”.
Spain, no more than 10 people gathered
The measures vary in different parts of Spain: while Catalonia has experienced severe restrictions on public life, in Madrid the closure of shops and gastronomic haunts was given up. Travel within the country – where a state of emergency currently exists – was limited from 23 December to 6 January, with the exception of work reasons, assistance to the elderly and the disabled and return to residence. Students are allowed to spend holidays with the family. In some cases it is also forbidden to leave one’s own Municipality of residence during the weekends. Meetings in the private and public spheres are also prohibited if more than ten people from two families are exceeded. On the other hand, schools remained open across the country. Limited access to churches, but authorities are advised to avoid chanting. The Christmas markets are open
Austria, third hard lockdown since December 26th. After January 18, only those who are negative to the test come out
Austria returns to confinement from 26 December to 18 January. Closed schools, restaurants and shops, with the exception of grocery stores and pharmacies. Mass test on January 16th and 17th, those who fail will be able to exit on 18th January. Ski resorts closed during the holiday period.
Belgium, drones and police anti-Christmas dinner. On New Year’s Eve everyone at home from 24
In Belgium, a curfew in Brussels and Wallonia, from 10pm to 6am, is added to the partial confinement in force for 6 weeks. The curfew must be observed in Brussels on both Christmas and New Year’s Eve, while in Wallonia on the evening of 31 December residents will be able to return home at midnight. In these two territories, the curfew has been extended until January 15. Each family can accommodate only one person, two for those who live alone. For those who do not respect the restrictions: 250 euros fine for guests and 750 euros for those who welcome at home. The police will carry out checks inside homes and with drones. Commercial activities may remain open until 9pm between 14 and 31 December. The consumption of alcohol in public places and outdoors is prohibited for the entire period. Since the end of October in Belgium, bars, restaurants, all non-essential shops are closed and there is an obligation to telework wherever possible. The schools instead reopened on Monday 16 November. The crisis committee is expected to announce further measures in the coming days.
Denmark, shops, restaurants and shopping centers closed from December 25th to January 3rd
In the face of a constantly growing number of coronavirus infections, the Copenhagen government has launched a confinement plan that provides for the closure of all shopping centers, all shops – except pharmacies, groceries and supermarkets – and restaurants from 25 December to January 3, while hairdressers, driving schools and the like will lower their shutters as early as Monday. Distance teaching has been started for pupils from the fifth grade onwards. Throughout Denmark, meetings in public spaces were limited to a maximum of ten people.
Finland, no party restrictions
With only 3,000 infections from Covid in seven days, during the Christmas holidays it will still be possible to organize real parties as there are no restrictions on meetings during the holidays and it is even allowed to meet in the sauna.
Sweden, a text message reminds you how to protect yourself. No restrictions on home meetings
In Sweden, after the soft approach that has led to a dizzying increase in cases, a stop to gatherings in public if you exceed eight people, a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages, but no limitation to meetings in the private sphere. The health authorities have limited themselves to praying citizens not to organize or not to participate in large events, parties, weddings, funerals, while in bars and restaurants they simply aim at distancing. But now the government is back to reinforce their appeals: one of the tools used are the 22 million SMS messages sent to Swedish residents signed by the Swedish Public Health Authority and the Emergency Protection Authority, to remember compliance with the reduction of contacts and avoid the shopping crowds.
Coronavirus, the king of Sweden criticizes the government’s choices
by Andrea Tarquini
17 December 2020-
Netherlands, 5-week lockdown. Three-day respite for Christmas
End of year celebrations in the sign of total closure in the Netherlands. From Wednesday until January 19 there is a very strict five-week block with a three-day Christmas “respite”. No school, from primary education to university until January 18. Only essential commercial activities remain open. Movements and interpersonal contacts must be limited: no more than two visitors over the age of 13 may enter a house. During the three-day Christmas period – December 24-26 – three “strangers” to the family will be able to visit the house and the existing restrictions will be eased a bit. In that 72-hour period, however, only supermarkets, pharmacies and banks will be open.
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