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With restrictions on family reunions, recommendations for avoiding hugs and a polite request to Santa to “keep his distance,” Europe is preparing for the first Christmas during the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reports, according to Agerpres.
Governments in various states on the European continent, where a quarter of all reported cases of infection and death have been reported globally, are trying to adjust restrictions on public life to allow families to celebrate Christmas without the risk of a massive transmission of viruses.
Most European countries will unveil their plans for Christmas this week, and the guidelines will be similar: small family reunions and traditional holidays – such as the Christmas fairs in Germany and the parade of the Magi in Spain – have largely been canceled.
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In Belgium, one of the most affected countries in Europe, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo expressed concern about the third wave of infections just as the second wave of pandemic has recently entered its phase. set to.
“Either we avoid a third Christmas wave or we will have a third Christmas wave,” said Sunday De Croo, intending to spend the holidays alone with his wife and their two children.
In the spirit of its prime minister’s message, the Belgian government has issued a letter to Santa, whose visit on December 6 is a national holiday attraction, urging the legendary figure to “keep your distance, wash your hands often and wear a mask when necessary ”.
In Italy, which has the worst budget in Europe after Great Britain, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte warned last week: “We will have to spend the holidays in a more sober way. Big parties, kisses and hugs will no longer be possible “.
Parisians will no longer go to the skating rink and Christmas fairs this year, and Moscow has canceled the festivities with a large audience, instead encouraging people to take a stroll and admire the city’s lights and decorations.
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Faced with these restrictions, Europeans are becoming innovative. An inn owner in the German state of Bavaria has opened a drive-through Christmas fair, and in the Netherlands, children enjoy meeting Santa while respecting social distance at a drive-in.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said German families should be able to spend Christmas together, “perhaps with protective measures”.
The possibility of carrying out checks has caused disagreements within the Christian Democratic Union, the party from which Chancellor Angela Merkel comes. Friedrich Merz, a candidate to lead the party in next year’s elections, told Tagesspiegel newspaper: “It’s not a state affair for me and my family to celebrate Christmas.”
In London, the government announced that it will decide with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to relax Christmas restrictions to allow families to reunite, despite warnings from a science advisor that Christmas gatherings carry substantial risks. .
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez summed up the balance that a government must make during this period: “We have two wishes: to be by our side and to embrace those we love most, as well as the obligation to protect. Because without a doubt ours greatest desire is to be able to live and spend many other Christmases in the company of our loved ones ”.
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