Some European countries chose to soften during the Christmas period the measures adopted to stop the covid-19 pandemic, in order to allow the celebration with family and friends, while maintaining restrictions. In Portugal the measures for the festive seasons (Christmas and New Year’s Eve) will only be known this Saturday, at 3 pm, when Prime Minister António Costa introduces them.
In Italy, travel between December 21 and January 6, 2021, travel between municipalities on the 25th and 29th of this month and on New Year’s Eve will be prohibited, except in cases of work, health or return home.
It is also prohibited to leave without a reason between 22:00 and 05:00. On January 1, 2021, the curfew will be extended until 07:00.
As for Christmas lunch and dinner, the Government recommended celebrating them only with family members who live in the same house, but did not advance the maximum number of guests.
The restaurants will be open for lunch, even on festive days, but with no more than four people per table. Bars and cafes will be open until 18:00 in the yellow zone (the one with the lowest risk in the country) and until Kings Day (on January 6th)), stores may be open until 21:00. Shopping centers will be closed at the weekend.
The time for the Mass of the Rooster, which is traditionally held from midnight on December 31, should be brought forward so that the faithful can return home before curfew. The cinemas and theaters will be closed during the festive period.
During the Christmas festivities there will be a slight reduction in restrictions to allow the celebration with family or friends, with 10 being the maximum number of people, not counting children under 14. Tighter measures may be imposed in regions with a particularly high incidence of infections.
Currently, the maximum number of people allowed in meetings is five, from two different households, also excluding those under the age of 14.
In Berlin, which, in one week, managed to lower the seven-day cumulative incidence rate from 215.6 nine days ago to 179 on Friday, Christmas parties and the New Year will have to be celebrated in a smaller circle, up to five people, in addition to children under 12.
United Kingdom
The UK will ease restrictions between 23 and 27 December to allow family reunions at Christmas, but within the limits defined by different regions.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have decided that people who integrate up to three separate households can form a “bubble” on those dates to celebrate the Christmas period.
On these days, there will be no limit to the number of people who are part of the “bubbles”, with the exception of Scotland, which imposed a limitation on a maximum of eight, in which children under 12 are not included.
In Northern Ireland, restrictions are eased from 22 to 28 December.
Belgium
In Belgium, families can only invite one person who does not live in the same house for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. People living alone can invite two.
The curfew, which currently starts at 22:00, will be lightened until midnight on December 24th. When on New Year’s Eve, the Belgian Government has not yet defined it.
Netherlands
The Netherlands will only decide on the rules after the 8th of this month, but it is not expected to alleviate the partial confinement in which the country finds itself.
The Government is betting on keeping the hotel sector closed until mid-January 2021 (or perhaps reopening in a very limited way) and may temporarily increase from three to six the maximum number of pieces that can be assembled in the interior spaces of the residences.
The ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol and drugs on the streets will also continue to be in effect from 8 pm, every day of the week.
Luxembourg
In Luxembourg, the Government does not intend to ease the restrictions imposed at the end of November, which include the curfew from 23:00 to 06:00, until the holiday season, so visits are reserved for a maximum of two guests by home.
Austria
Austria will ease the limitations on private meetings at Christmas and New Year. At the same time, until January 6, it keeps curfew from 20:00 to 06:00, as well as the ban on shows, the closure of all gastronomy and the rental of spaces for parties and in hotels and pensions.
For Christmas holidays, from December 24th to 26th, as well as for New Year’s Eve, from December 31st to January 1st, special, lighter rules will apply. On those days, curfew is suspended and meetings are allowed in private homes with a maximum of 10 people from several different families.
At the same time, measures have been imposed to reduce travel on winter holidays, where many Austrians tend to ski in the Alps. However, the hotels in the ski resorts will be closed, although the slopes are open.
Romania
The Romanian authorities, although they have not, so far, placed limits on the number of people who can gather in private homes at Christmas and New Year, forbid parties in private places with more than six people, having called for responsibility to prevent further outbreaks.
In addition to some population centers that were isolated due to the high number of contagion cases, Romania did not impose confinement or closure of the perimeters or movement restrictions between regions or large cities.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is considering extending the state of emergency beyond December 12, in order to maintain the social contact restrictions in place and aimed at halting the spread of the new coronavirus, in a context of decreasing infections.
The measures do not cover members of the same family, that is, there is no limit to the number of relatives in a private meeting.
On the other hand, outside family groups, there can be no more than six people and, in religious celebrations, more than 10.
A maximum of six people can meet on the street, while bars and restaurants must not admit customers above 50% of capacity. Each table can have a maximum of four people.
The measures also apply to mountain resorts, where Czechs usually go during the Christmas holidays.
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