New measures in Europe against the Omicron variant
Faced with the surge in the number of cases, European countries are reacting in dispersed order, with precautionary measures taken as the holidays approach.
Faced with the Omicron threat, Spain chooses to once again impose the wearing of a mask outside. A temporary measure, specifies Madrid, which leaves the Spanish regions the possibility of adding other restrictive measures. Catalonia, a very busy region during the holiday season, has thus decided to re-establish a nighttime curfew, and to limit the number of visitors to restaurants, sports and leisure venues.
In Greece, wearing a mask is once again compulsory indoors and outdoors. In transport and supermarkets, the government even recommends wearing two masks one on top of the other or an FFP2 type mask.
For its part, Italy is canceling the holding of concerts and festivities for the New Year and is considering making it again compulsory to wear a mask outdoors.
In the United Kingdom, Scotland announces the partial closure of nightclubs after having also canceled public events, scheduled for the end of the year.
Finally in France, President Emmanuel Macron asks his fellow citizens to multiply the tests as the holidays approach to protect each other. France is betting on vaccination to stem the progression of the epidemic: a health pass could be adopted in January, in order to encourage the unvaccinated to take the plunge.