El Espectador explains: more countries banning gatherings of more than 5 people



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In Europe, which has more than 390,000 deaths and 17.1 million cases, the imprisonment measures imposed in recent weeks are starting to bear fruit and several countries are starting to relax restrictions on the Christmas holidays.

European countries are studying different measures for fears that the Christmas holidays could further spread the coronavirus, on a day when the continent recorded the highest death toll of the entire pandemic, around 6,000 in a single day.

See more: US and Europe increase infections, what did they do wrong?

Although Europe presents a downward curve in terms of new positives, with a total of 17.5 million out of 60 million worldwide, it is unable to lower the number of daily deaths and now reaches 390,000.

And this on the eve of a Christmas that will be very different from those experienced up to now and that causes fear of a rebound in cases, as they are dates in which contacts with family and friends increase.

Limited meetings

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that he will have to take extreme measures to save Christmas. He ruled that schools should remain open, but recommended teleworking. In regions below the highest alert level – such as Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol and Leeds – pubs and restaurants will remain closed and will only be able to sell take-away food.

Sara It is also forbidden to meet people living under another roof, both indoors and outdoors with exceptions such as parks.

Alert levels will be reviewed every two weeks starting December 16. Earlier this week, the government announced a Christmas truce in which up to three families will be able to socialize between December 23-27.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel defends a tightening of current restrictions until December 20, and the government and federal states have agreed to extend, and in some cases tighten, the limitation of contacts.

See More: Everything you need to know about the second coronavirus wave in Europe

Although in the city-state of Berlin will only allow Christmas and New Year parties of up to five people in addition to children under 12In other parts of Germany there will be some easing of measures to allow celebrations for up to ten adults during Christmas.

For its part, France will carry out a progressive exit from the restrictions, with the aim of ending it for the overwhelming majority on 20 January, when it is planned to lift the curfew and reopen bars and restaurants.

From this Saturday the shops will be able to open with limited capacity and, until December 15, citizens will be able to leave the house for a maximum of three hours to walk, shop or play sports, with a sworn statement that justifies it.

Croatia will close all gastronomic establishments starting Saturday, limit the capacity of public transport and shops, close sports centers and ban the celebration of wedding banquets.

Sweden, which will carry out rapid antigen tests in places like nursing homes, has the highest incidence among the Nordic countries in fourteen days (617 cases per 100,000 population), so it has put aside the lax policy of one principle and now limit public meetings, prohibits the sale of alcohol from 22:00 and closes half an hour after the hotel and discos.

Switzerland has done the same, where police officers check for meetings of more than five people, in the face of the second wave of COVID-19.

What happened in Canada

In Canada, Thanksgiving was celebrated on October 12, so family reunions were allowed. However, an increase in infections occurred two weeks later. “What a pity. Really,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

See more: Saving Christmas, the attempt of different countries

That case prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States to issue new recommendations this week for the Thanksgiving celebration. “The coronavirus is getting worse and small family gatherings contribute significantly to transmission,” so they asked seniors and people at high risk to avoid this type of congregation.

Lacy Fehrenbach, Undersecretary of Health for the State of Washington, explained that the coronavirus spreads more easily when people fill closed rooms, which is why he recommended meetings outdoors, while sitting 1.80m away. be able to remove the mask and open the windows so that air can circulate, according to the AP agency.

“The more people attend a rally, the more likely someone at the party has the coronavirus, Fehrenbach said,” even someone they know and love.

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