The Omicron wave is receding in most countries of the world. By domino effect, the health restrictions imposed are gradually falling. In France, if the government remains cautious – one eye on the circulation of the virus, the other on the situation in the hospital and in the intensive care unit – it is letting go of ballast. A new stage took place on Wednesday with, in particular, the reopening of nightclubs. A next one will open on Monday, at school, where the mask will no longer be compulsory in the playgrounds for primary school students and staff. The next one is scheduled for February 28: wearing a mask will no longer be required indoors in all places where the vaccination pass is required.
“If we follow this dynamic, a fortnight after February 28, that brings us to mid-March, we could start to seriously ask ourselves the question of wearing a mask indoors, among adults and children”, indicated Olivier Véran. on France info, Wednesday. “We could also start to lighten the vaccine pass” in mid-March “but keep it in places that are very at risk, such as nightclubs, and there it would be until the end of March, beginning of April”. Other countries have decided to go faster and have already separated from the famous sesame. Overview.
“We are ending the use of the green passport [NDLR : passe sanitaire en Israël]the Omicron wave has been curbed, there is now a sharp drop in the number of seriously ill and infected people,” Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet said on Thursday after a meeting with public health officials. one of the first countries to have such a tool in place, a year ago when it launched its massive vaccination campaign, nearly half the population has since received three doses of the vaccine.
At the beginning of February, the government had already restricted the scope of its health pass. It was no longer mandatory to sit in cafes, restaurants, bars, gyms or hotels. On the other hand, it was always in demand in concert halls or cinemas. The Israeli government must also decide, shortly, on the abandonment of the requirement of a PCR test to enter the country.
England had already taken the lead. Since January 27, the country has abandoned almost all health restrictions, including the obligation to wear a mask indoors in public places – except on transport in London – and the presentation of a vaccination passport for events hosting a large audience. “As the Covid becomes endemic, we must replace legal obligations with advice and recommendations”, then pleaded Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister.
Northern Ireland still requires the health pass to access discos and events bringing together the public. Wales, since this Friday, no longer asks for it.
Faced with the improvement in the health situation and the high rate of vaccination (80% of the population has a complete regimen), the government has lifted, since January 22, most of the restrictions in place. The sanitary pass is no longer required at the entrance to nightclubs, places of leisure, bars and restaurants. Moreover, the latter have found, for a month, a normal rhythm: they are no longer obliged to lower the curtain at midnight. Wearing a mask in transport and shops remains compulsory until February 28. The rules could relax after this date.
It was the first country in the European Union to lift all health restrictions. Based on high vaccination coverage and the lesser danger of the Omicron variant, Denmark has put away, since February 1, masks and sanitary passes. The nightclubs reopened a few days later. The kingdom is also considering stopping its vaccination campaign. Only rare restrictions remain in force on entry into the country, for unvaccinated travelers arriving from a country outside the Schengen area.
Sweden has never been a fan of the vaccine pass. It was mandatory for only a few weeks, at the entrance to places hosting more than 50 people, then quickly removed on February 9. Like other restrictions stored in the closet, like the early closings of bars and restaurants or gauges for gatherings. Wearing a mask is no longer recommended on public transport in the event of crowds.
She chose the same date as Sweden, February 9, to lift the requirement to present a Covid-19 vaccination certificate – or proof of recovery – at the entrance to restaurants, cultural or sporting events.
Necessary to enter shops, restaurants and places of leisure, the Lithuanian Covid certificate was abolished on February 6. The Ministry of Health believed that its effectiveness was greatly reduced due to the spread of the contagious Omicron variant.
In Spain, each region is responsible for health and sets its own health measures. Catalonia has decided to end, on January 28, the obligation to present a health pass to access bars, restaurants and sports halls. The regional government deemed the tool ineffective against Omicron. On the whole of Spanish territory, wearing a mask outside is no longer compulsory since February 10.
“As of March 5, many of the restrictions, which people complain about so much, will disappear,” Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammers announced on Wednesday. It is thus following in the footsteps of other European countries, mentioned above, against a backdrop of improving health conditions. The vaccination pass will no longer be compulsory at the entrance to hotels, restaurants, concerts and sporting events. The curfew is abolished and the wearing of the mask lightened: the FFP2, currently compulsory in Austria, must only be kept in transport, supermarkets, pharmacies and hospitals. Since the beginning of February, people over the age of 18 must, however, be vaccinated against Covid-19 or face a fine.
- Countries reduce its perimeter
France is thinking about it, like other countries. Portugal will soon lift certain restrictive measures, including the presentation of a health pass to access restaurants, hotels and major events bringing together the public. A complete vaccination schedule will always be compulsory to cross the Portuguese borders. Germany has shown a similar desire to lighten or lift the vaccination obligations conditioning access to the main places of social and cultural life but, like Portugal, has not yet specified a timetable.
Since Thursday, the Swiss can enter a store or restaurant without wearing a mask or presenting a Covid certificate. Only are maintained, until the end of March, the wearing of the mask in public transport and health establishments.