Covid-19: “It’s still early” to book trips for Christmas, some European countries warn | Coronavirus



[ad_1]

Some European countries have issued a warning to their citizens: it is too early to make travel plans around Christmas time and there may be restrictions decided closer to the date.

The clearest warning came from Irish Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who said he does not advise Irish citizens living outside the country to buy a plane ticket to Ireland over the Christmas period. “It’s too early” to give travel advice at the time, he said, quoted by the British broadcaster BBC.

Even French Prime Minister Jean Castex, when asked if citizens could already buy train tickets for the December celebrations, said it was still too early to have a clue.

The gains in declining virus transmission from the restrictions are still fragile, he pointed out at a press conference Thursday – and the next two weeks will be essential to see if there is room to allow for relaxation.

In Germany, the Minister of Health, Jens Spahn, stressed that even if the epidemiological situation improves a lot, it will not be possible to have “Christmas parties as if nothing had happened”.

In Italy, the Minister of Regional Affairs, Francesco Boccia, said people should only celebrate Christmas with their close relatives.

Even in Sweden, highlighted by its less restrictive approach, official Anders Tegnell warned of the possibility of travel restrictions to “prevent regional health services from unresponsive,” quoted the BBC.

Tegnell said a first decision will be made in a week or two, but that the Swedes should be ready for the situation to change at the right time, “even before Christmas”.

.

[ad_2]
Source link