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Friday 27 November 2020
The French have more freedom in their free time. Many previously closed stores can also open under certain conditions. Ireland takes it one step further and is reopening restaurants to diners. Italy and Belgium are relatively reluctant to relax.
In several European countries, where there have been particularly tight krone restrictions in place for weeks, people are now facing an easing. In view of the decline in the number of infections, France will defuse the measures from this Saturday. So even non-essential stores can reopen their doors, but only under certain conditions. Eight square meters of sales area must be available for each customer. However, restaurants, bars and cafes and sporting and cultural facilities remain closed.
Although the house can only be left for good reasons and with a completed certificate, more time off on weekends is allowed. Anyone who wants to go for a walk or play sports can now do it three hours a day within a radius of 20 kilometers from home. So far, the limits were one hour and a one kilometer radius.
According to health authorities, France has already survived the peak of new infections in the second corona wave. About 13,500 new infections were reported within 24 hours on Thursday. In early November, well over 60,000 cases sometimes occurred. In the country of 67 million people, more than 50,000 people have died since the outbreak of the pandemic.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the easing this week. The spread of the virus has been “slowed down,” he said. However, further efforts are needed to prevent a third wave. Further easing is expected in France in mid-December and at Christmas.
“We would not survive a third wave”
Belgium is also reducing its needs somewhat in the event of a pandemic. From 1 December, all shops will be able to reopen according to strict hygiene rules, instead of just food shops and shops with absolutely essential goods as before. Premier Alexander De Croo announced this. Most of the conditions will remain in place, probably until mid-January. Strict contact restrictions also apply at Christmas.
Small Belgium with its 11.5 million inhabitants sometimes has the highest number of crown cases per capita in Europe and therefore imposed strict requirements in early November. The numbers of infections, hospitals and deaths are decreasing.
However, the situation remains tense, De Croo said. It is important to keep pressing the numbers. Successes shouldn’t be jeopardized. “We would not survive a third wave,” the prime minister said. Therefore, there are restrictions on contacts and a night curfew. During the Christmas holidays, only the rules for single people would be loosened: instead of one person, they could invite two to celebrate at the same time. The nationwide ban on firecrackers applies during the New Year. Restaurants, pubs and cafes will remain closed, as will hairdressers and other physical contact shops.
Ireland opens restaurants and gyms
The easing is going further in Ireland. After a six-week lockdown, all shops, restaurants and gyms will be able to reopen there, Prime Minister Michael Martin announced. From December 18, travel between counties should be allowed again to allow for a “different but special” Christmas.
Pubs that only offer drinks must remain closed, but should receive additional financial support. Between December 18 and January 6, up to three families can meet again in private. Ireland was one of the first European countries to re-impose a blockade in the second crown wave.
Italy is easing only in some regions
In Italy, the government eased the restrictions on the crown that had been in place for weeks in many regions. Lombardy, economically strong and with the highest population, will pass from the red zone to oranges on Sunday, said Health Minister Roberto Speranza. This will loosen the current partial lockdown and the shops can reopen. The Piedmont regions to the north and Calabria to the south are also moving into the orange zone.
Speranza also ordered that Liguria and the island of Sicily become yellow zones with more relaxed rules. For other areas such as Tuscany (red), the current measures have been extended until the beginning of December.
According to the Ministry of Health’s weekly Crown Status report, the reproduction value also dropped from 1.2 to around 1.1. The R-value shows how many people a corona-infected person infects on average. It was the first effect of the restrictive measures, said the ministry expert, Giovanni Rezzi. However, health authorities reported more than 820 deaths for the second consecutive day. This Friday, there were more than 27,000 new infections.
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