The Greek authorities at the last moment postponed a decision on which it was planned to allow entrance to supermarkets on negative results of a rapid test. But, apparently, this, as well as the introduction of other restrictive measures, can be expected in the near future.
According to Star TV journalists, the committee of experts is preparing new measures and will present them to the government next week, if required.
In particular, according to the report, as soon as they receive instructions from the government on making proposals, the experts are ready to introduce the following measures in the near future:
Restrictions on work until 1 am in restaurants and entertainment venues throughout Greece. Decrease in the number of visitors, depending on the area, in restaurants, cafes, entertainment centers, as well as in supermarkets and shops.
Of course, according to the report, the government is not yet confident that these measures will be implemented.
And this is against the backdrop of numerous statements by the prime minister that the government has decided to adhere to two basic principles: no more general prohibitions and no restrictions for vaccinated people.
New quarantine in the Netherlands
At the same time, the first partial isolation introduced in Western Europe after the summer is likely to take effect over the weekend in the Netherlands, where vaccination coverage reaches 85% of the adult population. The final government decision is expected to be announced on Friday evening.
Bars, restaurants and non-essential shops are required to close at 19:00 for a minimum of three weeks, citizens will be encouraged to work from home as much as possible, and spectators will not be allowed to attend sporting events. Schools, theaters and cinemas will remain open.
The incidence of Covid-19 has skyrocketed in the country of 17.5 million after the end of September social exclusion measures were lifted.
On Thursday, 16,264 new cases were reported, the highest since the start of the pandemic.
Isolation for the unvaccinated in Austria
In Austria, Chancellor Alexander Salenberg said he would announce Sunday whether he would impose restrictions on citizens who chose not to get the Covid vaccine.
Salenberg did not specify when the restrictions will take effect, but the two areas hardest hit by the new wave of the pandemic – Upper Austria and Salzburg – intend to take action unilaterally starting Monday.
Vaccination coverage in Austria does not exceed 65%, which is one of the lowest rates in Western Europe (64% in Greece), as vaccine distrust is widespread, and this position is supported by the far-right Freedom Party, the third largest in parliament.
In the event of a new lockdown, vaccinated people will face the same restrictions that applied to the general population in the three previous lockdowns in 2020, the Chancellor explained.
Germany: mandatory masks and distancing
The epidemic is also on the rise in Germany, where 50,196 new cases were reported on Thursday, the highest number since the start of the pandemic.
The bill, being drafted by the government, will allow measures such as mandatory use of masks and social distancing by March next year. Meanwhile, some cities have also reportedly canceled Christmas markets this year.
Restrictive measures are also being taken in Eastern Europe, where vaccination coverage remains low due to public mistrust. Latvia, one of the least vaccinated countries in Europe, announced a four-week quarantine in mid-October.
The Czech government is expected to announce new measures on Friday, bringing back some restrictions on flights to Russia and Slovakia.
Trouble in Britain
And in the UK, for the second day, after an almost two-week decline in the number of cases of coronavirus, an increase in the number of infected is recorded. In particular, 40,374 cases were confirmed, up from 34,029 last Friday. In 24 hours, 145 deaths were confirmed.
On a continuous seven-day basis, the incidence is reduced by 6.5% and the number of deaths by 8.9%.
In a statement Friday afternoon, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he has seen “storm clouds gathering over parts of the European continent” where the virus is on the rise. Warning that in the past, the “waves” of each outbreak of the virus hit the UK, he stressed that “the urgency of the booster dose of the vaccine is more obvious than ever.”
The number of third doses already available in the UK currently reaches over 20% of citizens aged 12 and over, namely 11.8 million citizens.
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