A record surge in Covid-19 cases and a new variant has put several countries, especially in Europe, under strain and on high alert. The rising cases have become a cause to worry ahead of the festive season, which will likely see restrictions imposed by governments to curb the virus spread. A newly identified coronavirus variant – B.1.1.529 – spreading in South Africa and also detected in Hong Kong, Botswana has prompted India, UK, and Israel to impose travel ban on countries in which the variant has been detected.
Here’s a look at countries re-imposing Covid-19 restrictions:
Austria
Austria entered its fourth national lockdown on Monday after tens of thousands of people, many of them far-right supporters, protested in Vienna against renewed curbs on movement as Europe again becomes the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.
Roughly 66% of Austria’s population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, one of the lowest rates in western Europe. Restaurants, cafes, bars, theatres, non-essential shops and hairdressers cannot open their doors for 10 days, and maybe as many as 20, the government said.
Slovakia
Slovakia’s government followed the example of neighbouring Austria on Wednesday and ordered a two-week lockdown to quell the world’s fastest rise in COVID-19 cases as the number of people sick in hospital reached a critical level and vaccinations remain low.
The restrictions for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people will include closed restaurants and non-essential shops, TASR news agency quoted Economy Minister Richard Sulik as saying.
Germany
German Chancellor Angela Merkel labelled November 25 ‘a very sad day’ and backed calls for more restrictions, as her country became the latest to surpass 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Health Minister Jens Spahn also called for further restrictions as Germany’s rate of coronavirus infections hit a record high and more politicians backed compulsory vaccinations.
Spahn said more public spaces should be restricted to those who were vaccinated or recently recovered from COVID-19 and also had a negative test. However, official announcements on restrictions have not been made as of November 26.
Russia
With daily deaths hovering around an all-time high until a few days back, the Kremlin delegated the power to introduce restrictions to regional authorities depending on the local situation, and many provinces across Russia have tightened restrictions, allowing access to public places only to those who are immunized or test negative for the virus.
Kazan, the central city of the Russian province of Tatarstan, on November 22 became the first in Russia to start demanding QR codes proving vaccination, past illness or a negative coronavirus test on public transport. About 500 people were denied access to public transport in the city of 1.2 million, and a conflict between a passenger and controllers led to a brief suspension of service on one of the city’s tram lines.
The Russian Cabinet has submitted new legislation that would restrict access to many public places, as well as domestic and international trains and flights, to those who have been fully vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19 or are medically exempt from vaccination. The legislation, which is set to take effect early next year, has already triggered protests across the country.
Netherlands
The Dutch government on November 26 ordered further restrictions including a nighttime closure of bars, restaurants and most stores to stem a record-breaking wave of COVID-19 cases that is threatening to overwhelm the country’s healthcare system.
Rutte said on Friday non-essential stores would be closed from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., and masks would be required in secondary schools. His government urged everyone who can to work from home, and if they cannot, to follow social distancing guidelines. The new measures go into effect from November 28.
Portugal
Many Portuguese are welcoming the return of some COVID-19 restrictions announced by the government on November 25 night amid a surge in infections and the threat of a new highly contagious variant, and some are calling for even tougher measures.
Those who are fully vaccinated must present proof of a negative test to enter nightclubs, bars and large events, while the EU digital certificate will be required to stay in hotels, go to the gym, or dine indoors in restaurants. Portugal has ordered mandatory mask-wearing in indoor public spaces, recommended remote work whenever possible and made it mandatory during the first week of January.
Shanghai and Xuzhou in China
A handful of local COVID-19 cases in eastern parts of China have prompted Shanghai city to limit tourism activities and a nearby city to cut public transport services, as China insists on zero tolerance against letting clusters spread.
Xuzhou, a city of 9.1 million population, has suspended its three subway lines, cut some citywide as well as long-distance bus services and closed a few entrances on highways linking it and surrounding areas. It advised residents not to leave town for unnecessary reasons, and demanded suspensions of larger face-to-face public activities including concerts, sports events and exhibitions.
Czech Republic
The Czech government on November 16 ordered bars and clubs to close at 10 p.m. and banned Christmas markets in an attempt to stem one of the world’s highest coronavirus infection rates. The new restrictions also include a maximum attendance of 1,000 people at culture and sports events, stopping short of the sweeping lockdowns in neighbouring Austria and Slovakia, where infection rates are even higher.
The limits on pubs and events come on top of earlier restrictions that already bar people who have not been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 from places including pubs, restaurants, cinemas, hairdressers and gyms.
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