The Delta variant worries Europe: all countries ready for new travel restrictions

Rome, July 9, 2021 – La Delta variant runs in Europe and, in view of the summer and the tourism recovery, alerts all countries. Starting from Italy where today Gianni Rezza, general director of Prevention of the Ministry of Health, anticipated that new control measures on travel between European countries are being studied: “I know that you are considering taking more rigid measures for passengers arriving from Spain and Portugal. But for now this decision has not yet been taken “. Moreover, he added,” it is not easy to implement checks on arrivals from European countries. There may be carriers who do not apply strict measures. In this case it is good that ENAC makes a reference to the carriers themselves “.

In Great Britain Delta variant cases in the past 24 hours have shot up to 35,707, marking a new high since January, in France 50% of the infections are attributable to the Delta and the countries that increase travel to Spain is not recommended for Covid risk. Also there Germany he put it on the list, also including Mallorca and the Canaries, traditional destinations for German tourists. In Netherlands today new restrictive measures have been announced including the closing at midnight of restaurants and discos. While from Wednesday 14 July a Malta only the people who have it will be able to enter completed the vaccination cycle for at least 14 days: a decision taken today by the Maltese Ministry of Health after 5 consecutive days of exponential growth in infections, at 90% concerning young foreigners.

In Spain, where the Covid transmission among young people has doubled in a week (today it has reached an incidence of 1,047 cases in the group aged 20 to 29 and 891 in the group aged 12 to 19 per 100,000 inhabitants) Canary Islands and the Valencian Community have asked for authorization to decree the night curfew to counter the increase in infections from Covid-19, which threatens to ruin the country’s tourist season. The Canary Islands have sought the approval of the High Court of Justice of the to restore the curfew in Tenerife between midnight and 6 am. On this island, even the sale of alcohol is prohibited from 8 pm, the capacity of public transport is reduced to 33% and in shopping centers to 25%. The islands beat the record in case of the entire pandemic this Thursday.

The fear is to repeat the same situation of thelast summer when the easing of tensions was followed by a surge in cases with the second wave in the fall. For this reason the calls for vaccinations which, even if they do not stop the infections, certainly affect the drastic decrease in hospitalizations. While in all European governments they are new restrictions are being studied – especially when traveling – to try to stem the infections

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Netherlands

A surge in infections in the Netherlands due to the Delta variant. So much so that Prime Minister Mark Rutte has announced a series of new restrictive measures including the closing of all discos and that of restaurants at midnight. The infections are increased sevenfold in one week and 7,000 new cases were identified on Friday, Rutte said, forcing the government to back down on easing restrictions. “There is a dark cloud in front of the sun. For the moment – he added – i contagion rates are exploding, mainly due to the highly contagious Delta variant. If we don’t do something, it will increase further. It is clear that the rapid spread of the virus must be nipped in the bud. “

France

Ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s speech to the nation on Monday, Health Minister Olivier Véran launched thealarm for the rapid advance of the Delta variant, which will be that over the weekend dominant nationwide. A new health defense council was convened in advance for Monday that could decree themandatory vaccination for some professional categories or groups of the population particularly at risk, in addition to a possible one extension of the health pass. Meanwhile, the French government not recommend its citizens to go in Spain or Portugal for holidays summer due to the epidemiological situation which has already deteriorated.

Germany

Anyone who returns to Germany after a trip to Spain – declared area at risk Covid-19 – will have to present a negative swab or certification of a complete vaccination to avoid having to go to quarantine. Stricter rules for those who return from Cipro, also from this Sunday indicated as an area with a high incidence of contagion: in this case a five to ten day quarantine will still be mandatory.

Greece

From 5 July, adults who intend to travel to the Greek islands must present a Covid vaccination certificate or a negative rapid swab / antigen test or show that you have recently recovered. Young people between the ages of 12 and 17 will be able to travel with any test, including those you take at home, while no test is required for children under 12. The measure does not affect the islands of Euba, Lefkada and Salamis. The government is also considering introducing controls for movements between the regions of mainland Greece.

Malta

The government of Malta announced the closure of its borders to unvaccinated travelers, in order to stem the surge in infections. The provision will come into force from July 14, when each traveler will be required to produce a Maltese, British or European Union vaccination certificate. And the first EU country to adopt this restrictive measure.

Portugal

From 10 July they come into force stricter restrictions for tourists entering Portugal: whether they are foreigners or Portuguese returning from abroad, to stay in the hotel they must present a negative test, a vaccination certificate or proof of a recent recovery. The same provision also applies to other types of accommodation, such as Airbnb. Over the weekend, in 60 high-risk Covid locations, including Lisbon and Porto, at the entrance of the restaurants a vaccination or recovery certificate will be requested in order to have the meal inside. From Friday 2 July the curfew returned – in Lisbon and Porto – with a traffic ban between 11pm and 5am. The limitation of the opening hours of bars and restaurants, which already affected Lisbon, at 10.30 pm during the week and at 3.30 pm at the weekend was also extended to 16 other municipalities.

Spain

Spain asks for a test Covid negative or proof of occurrence vaccination to British tourists heading to the Balearic Islands (Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera). The national health situation is on the rise rapidly deteriorating, which is why France advises citizens against choosing Spain as a summer destination. Germany returns to declare all of Spain area at risk Covid, including Mallorca and the Canary Islands. Among the areas most at risk, in addition to the Balearics, there is also Catalonia, starting with Barcelona.