Belgium
In our southern neighbors, for example, the primary schools will also close a week earlier, from December 18. But otherwise it is not nearly as strict as last year. Back then, Belgians were only allowed to receive one hug contact outside their own household, this year there is no limit on the number of visitors at home. Restaurants will also remain open until 11 p.m. The only restriction is that you can sit at a table with a maximum of six people.
Denmark
Primary schools in Denmark are also closing earlier – they have even been closed since last Wednesday. And the government has asked people not to have Christmas drinks.
Furthermore, the Danes rely on the existing measures. They were one of the first countries to apply for the corona pass and a lot of testing is being done. This makes it possible to monitor the virus well and intervene where necessary.
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Germany
There are differences per state, but in fact 2G is leading throughout Germany. The current measures will apply until December 19 and may not be tightened. But the new Chancellor Scholz has said he will not rule out a Christmas lockdown either.
People who have not been fully vaccinated or recovered, have to take many restrictions into account anyway. Unvaccinated people are only allowed to get together with family or with a maximum of two others. If everyone has been vaccinated, then a maximum of 50 people may be together.
Travel within Germany is possible. Unlike last year, hotels and restaurants are open – for vaccinated people. Sometimes 2G-plus applies: in addition to a vaccination certificate, a negative test certificate is also requested.
Britain
Measures have just been reintroduced in England, such as the mouth cap obligation and keeping a distance. But the catering industry remains open and there are no fixed restrictions on the number of people you can receive. The government does ask citizens to be careful when it comes to vulnerable people and to be cautious about the number of unknowns you are going to see. In Scotland, it is recommended that no more than three households come together.
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Portugal
At the beginning of this month, it was already decided in Portugal to make mouth caps mandatory again in shops and restaurants. The corona pass returns and vaccinated people must also be tested in nightclubs. The same goes for anyone entering the country: you need a negative test.
But Christmas is the most important holiday of the year and therefore there are few restrictions. For example, Portuguese can receive as many guests as they want. But to prevent a huge uptick in the pandemic, there is a kind of preventive lockdown in the first week of January. The catering industry is closing and people have to work from home. Schools won’t open until a week later, the 10th. This should ensure that people who become infected during the holidays cannot spread the virus further. If necessary, the lockdown will be extended.
With this, Portugal hopes to prevent last year’s doomsday scenario. Then there were no measures at all at Christmas, which led to an unprecedented wave of contamination and code black in hospitals.
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