Because of falling numbers
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Neighboring German countries are lifting a number of corona measures
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A car drives past a sign pointing to the German-Dutch border (symbolic photo).
Photo: dpa/Sina Schuldt
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The Hague/Paris Access also for unvaccinated people in restaurants, cinemas and theaters – and soon there will no longer be a requirement to wear a mask: Corona restrictions are being relaxed in several states around Germany.
In view of the falling corona numbers, other European countries are relaxing their corona restrictions. For example, Switzerland is largely lifting the protective measures. Access restrictions for unvaccinated people in restaurants, leisure and cultural facilities or at events are to be lifted this week, as the government in Bern has already announced. And this Wednesday she will finally decide whether all other measures will also be ended. However, it is possible that the mask requirement will remain in place on buses and trains, for example.
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In France, discotheques have been able to reopen since Wednesday, concert organizers are allowed to offer standing room, people can eat on trains and eat popcorn in cinemas. In the Netherlands, nightclubs and bars are allowed to stay open until 1 a.m. from Friday. A week later, all restrictions on opening times should be lifted.
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In France, discotheques have been closed for a total of 18 months over the past two years. According to the new regulations, it is now again permitted to have a drink standing up at the bar. Health Minister Olivier Véran announced that the mask requirement would end in mid-March if the infection rate permitted.
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“If the hospitals are back to normal and the virus is only spreading slowly, then adults and children can do without the mask indoors,” Véran told the France Info broadcaster. The number of places where a valid vaccination barrel is an access requirement will then also decrease. This is expected to happen gradually.
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The Netherlands are also lifting most of the corona measures. From Friday, football stadiums, theatres, cinemas and restaurants will be allowed to receive almost unlimited visitors again – and they will be open again until 1 a.m. instead of 10 p.m. as before. “The country will be reopened,” Health Minister Ernst Kuipers said in The Hague on Tuesday evening. In view of the declining number of infections, there is reason for optimism. But he also called for caution.
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The last step will probably follow in the Netherlands on February 25th: Then the mask requirement will be abolished and also the Corona passport, it said. With the pass, visitors to restaurants, culture and sport still have to prove that they have been tested, vaccinated or recovered. For major indoor events such as festivals, testing will be mandatory in the future. The mask requirement should only apply in local public transport and on airplanes.
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The background to this is that in recent weeks the pressure from citizens and companies on the government to lift the measures has increased. Even experts now consider this to be justifiable.
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Austria also wants to increase the pace of the corona easing. The government and prime minister will discuss this on Wednesday. So far, further opening steps are planned for February 19th. Then – apart from Vienna – the 3G rule should apply again in the catering trade instead of the 2G rule. Last but not least, the tourism industry and some country heads are pushing for further easing. For example, when entering the country, the rule still applies that only vaccinated people and genesis with an additional negative test are allowed to enter the country.
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With a seven-day incidence of 2,500 per 100,000 inhabitants, Austria has a significantly higher value than Germany. However, the situation in the clinics is currently stable.
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A little further away from the German borders, significantly fewer corona measures than before have been in force in Finland since Monday. Restaurants and pubs are now allowed to sell alcohol until 11 p.m. and remain open until midnight. As reported by radio station Yle, a ban on singing and dancing has also been lifted – this means that many Finns can go back to the karaoke bars they love. Restrictions on culture, sport and events are also eliminated.
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The Finnish government announced the easing a good two weeks ago. Denmark, Sweden and most recently Norway have already lifted practically all applicable corona restrictions.
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