Gradual curfew and deconfinement, tougher measures, fortnight … We take stock of the new restrictions put in place in Europe to try to stem the second wave of coronavirus as the Christmas holidays approach.
[Mis à jour le 14 décembre 2020 à 10h26] Eagerly awaited because they are an opportunity to meet up with family on the occasion of the end of year celebrations, the Christmas holidays will have a special flavor in this year 2020. While some countries such as France have announced a gradual deconfinement and the establishment of a curfew with exceptions to make it possible to meet in a small committee at Christmas, other countries have been forced to strengthen their measures in the face of an upsurge in cases of coronavirus. We take stock of the restrictions in Europe to fight the second wave of Covid-19.
In Germany, Angela Merkel called for new restrictions until mid-January across the country, where existing measures are proving insufficient to bring the number of Covid-19 cases under control. The German Chancellor has thus announced strict containment, with the closure of non-essential businesses and schools from Wednesday until January 10.
Managed by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), a unique map of red, green, orange and gray areas helps travelers navigate better (available HERE and updated December 10, 2020). In total, around twenty EU countries, including France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy and the United Kingdom appear in red because of their health situation. No country appears in green this week and only Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Norway are mostly orange with some green or orange areas.
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Note: for more complete information on three very popular countries – Spain, Italy and Portugal – do not hesitate to consult our dedicated focuses. They include all the practical information to prepare your trip and live a serene vacation, even in this delicate period:
In order to avoid a rebound in the pandemic, the Spaniards will not be able to meet with more than 10, children included, on December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1. From December 23 to January 6, travel between regions will be prohibited, except for essential needs. Bars and restaurants are open, but subject to a nighttime curfew, which may be delayed by regions until 1:30 a.m. on Christmas and New Years
Since November 23, Spain has been obliging travelers from 65 “countries at risk”, including France, to present a negative PCR test of less than 72 hours upon arrival in Spain. This measure will apply “at the points of entry” in the country, that is to say the airports and the ports, the land borders not being currently subjected to controls as during the first wave of the pandemic.
- Wearing a mask is compulsory for anyone over 6 years old, on public transport, in public spaces or in places open to the public, including hotels and shops, when a distance of one meter fifty is not can be respected between two people.
- Any passenger wishing to travel to Spain by plane must complete a personal and non-transferable form: once this form has been completed and signed, the traveler will receive a QR code associated with his trip that he must keep on his mobile phone or print in order to be able to pass the airport health control.
- The beaches are open but the rules (reservation, limitation of attendance …) are decided by each municipality.
Italy on Saturday totaled the highest number of deaths from the coronavirus in Europe since the start of the epidemic (64,036 deaths) thus overtaking the United Kingdom. Travelers from France who come to Italy between December 21 and January 6 will be subject to a fortnight on site (14 days), even if they have a negative test. Finally, from December 21 to January 6, travel between regions will be prohibited.
The 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew remains in effect and will be extended until 7 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. Pope Francis’ Christmas Eve Mass will begin at 7:30 p.m., to allow a limited number of worshipers to attend. attend and respect the curfew. “Lunches with dozens of people at Christmas are to be avoided. Let us remember that contacts without a mask and without distancing increase the probability that the virus will spread. We must adopt great caution, move little, be very attentive when we meet people outside our inner circle, ”recommended the president of the Italian Higher Institute of Health, Silvio Brusaferro. The ski slopes and ski lifts can only reopen from January 7.
It is in Belgium that the measures will be the most drastic during the Christmas holidays. The government has therefore asked each household to welcome only one outside guest, two for people living alone. A curfew will be in effect from midnight to 5 a.m. and home police checks will be in place.
It is always possible for the French to spend a few days in Belgium. For this, and only if the stay exceeds 48 hours, a PCR test is mandatory, as is a passenger tracking form which must be submitted to the authorities within two days after arrival in the territory. A quarantine of 7 days is however required for travelers coming from a “red zone”: the city of Paris and the departments of Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, Sarthe, Hérault, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, French Guiana and Mayotte. Other French departments were added to this list at the beginning of September: Hauts-de-Seine, Val-d’Oise, Loiret, Gironde, Rhône, Var and Guadeloupe. Any traveler coming from one of these areas must complete a online form, then get tested and isolate themselves upon arrival.
While new cases of contamination are on the rise, especially in London, the British authorities have decided to ease the restrictions for a few days during the end of the year celebrations. From December 23 to 27, three different homes can come together over a period of 5 days maximum. Travel will be possible but the rules vary by region. On large parts of the territory, two different households are not allowed to meet indoors. Throughout England, any meeting is limited to six people. For French people who plan to spend the holidays across the Channel, know that the quarantine has been reduced from 14 to 10 days
All over England, non-essential businesses will be able to reopen, the stay-at-home instruction will be lifted and teleworking will remain recommended. But in areas placed in the highest alert level, such as Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol and Leeds (23 million people in total), pubs and restaurants will remain closed, being able to offer only take-out. or deliveries. It will be forbidden to meet people who do not belong to his home, inside or outside, with exceptions such as in parks.
In the capital London, as in the majority of England (32 million people), the risk is considered “high” (level 2): pubs and restaurants can only open if they serve meals and meetings between different households are limited to six people outside, but prohibited inside, prohibiting meals with friends and families at home and in restaurants. In the capital London, as in the majority of England (32 million people), the risk is considered “high” (level 2): pubs and restaurants can only open if they serve meals and meetings between different households are limited to six people outside, but prohibited inside, prohibiting meals with friends and families at home and in restaurants. Only three areas, representing just 1.27% of England’s population, have been placed on the lowest “medium” alert level: Cornwall, Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly. This ranking will be the subject of a first evaluation on December 16.
The Dutch government strongly advises against traveling to regions abroad particularly affected by Covid-19 (regions classified “orange” or “red” in the typology observed by the Dutch authorities) and requests home quarantine for ten days for travelers from France upon arrival in the Netherlands. Passengers traveling to the Netherlands by air must complete a health declaration form before boarding. In the event that a traveler exhibits any of the symptoms listed in the health declaration form, they will not be accepted on the flight. This is also applicable for transit passengers.
Some strict measures also concern the whole country: gatherings are limited to 20 people, alcohol consumption is prohibited in public spaces, confinement is mandatory for people who test positive or under active vigilance.
- No quarantine is required for French travelers, unless you come from overseas territories. Special provisions are in force if you wish to travel to the Azores and Madeira, visitors having to present a negative test for COVID-19 carried out within 72 hours before disembarkation, or to do so on their arrival.
- In airports, taking the temperature of passengers on arrival is mandatory.
- A social distancing rule of 2 meters must be observed in public spaces.
- Wearing a mask is compulsory in transport, public services, shops and supermarkets, closed spaces and tourist or public places.
- A label “Clean & Safe“was created by the organization responsible for tourism, Turismo de Portugal. Obtaining this label by a hotel establishment or tourist site must ensure that managers comply with all safety measures.
- The restaurants are open, with a capacity limited to 50% and closing no later than 11 p.m.
- For the beaches, signage on beach occupancy has been put in place (green: low occupancy, yellow: high occupancy, red: saturated occupancy). You can find all the information on the Info Praia app or on the website Enviroment.
What conditions must be respected in Greece?
Non-essential shops, restaurants, cafes, performance halls, museums, sports halls are closed in Athens and in the most populous areas of the country. In contrast, businesses and schools continue to operate to avoid further damaging the economy. All travelers, regardless of their nationality and origin, must complete a online form at least 48 hours before the trip. Above all, Greece requires that they present at boarding the results written in English of a negative test for the coronavirus (RT-PCR) of less than 72 hours for all arrivals. The Covid-19 PCR test is not required for children born in 2011 and later. Random virus screening may be requested upon arrival of travelers which, if positive, leads to a 14-day quarantine (at least 7 days for contact cases) in a structure designated by the health authorities.
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