Coronavirus: How Europeans are preparing for Christmas and New Year

For months now, coronavirus has imposed restrictions on where millions of Europeans can travel and who they can see when they get there.

So with Christmas fast approaching, governments are making tough decisions about whether to relax restrictions in a timely manner for the holiday season.

Here is a break from what has been announced so far.

Many Italians head to the ski resort during Christmas and New Year, but Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has warned against this traditional break. “We can’t afford that,” he said.

That means popular ski resorts and dolomites in the Alps will lose billions of euros in festival revenue.

Mr Conte is seeking a European consensus, closing ski resorts and taking other measures.

“I think it’s a European problem,” Mr Conte told La7 Television. “If Italy decides to close all its ski lifts without any support from France, Ria Austria and other countries, Italian tourists will risk going abroad and bringing in. [virus] Back home. ” Of France Ski resorts will also be closed and the leader of these Bavaria is a German state Supports temporary closure, but Aust Strian Tourism officials believe that once the ban is eased on December 7 and they reject the Italian plan, they can grant safe leave. Swiss Resorts are already open.

Italy is currently witnessing the highest number of deaths since the end of March and the Prime Minister has asked Italians to expect a more peaceful Christmas “without gatherings, hugs and kisses on Christmas Eve”.

Many Italian territories are under partial lockdown and travel between them is prohibited. The measures will last until December 3, but reports suggest the emergency decree may see a relaxation in the rules after this date.

The exact details of the decree are still being discussed by ministers. The favorite Italian Christmas market is banned though.

But that’s not all bad news: Mr. Conte has assured the children

Bubbo Nutley (Father Christmas) will definitely visit as he is exempt from global travel restrictions. Fau.

After weeks of national lockouts, sanctions on President Emanuel Macron are set to begin easing on November 28. But most of the lockdown measures will remain in place until before the December 15 festive break.

Shops, theaters and cinemas will reopen on time for Christmas and people will be able to visit their families during the festive period. “We will travel between regions, without authorization.” Mr. Maron said in a TV address.

It is worth noting that France is under its second national lockdown since the end of October. But on December 15, this will be replaced by a nationwide curfew from 21:00 to 07:00. However, curfew will not be imposed on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Restaurants and schools will not reopen until at least January 20, and these daily cases are based on a drop of 5,000. Bars, cafes and nightclubs are closed indefinitely.

Religious services will be available from November 28 with a limit of 30 people.

The decision to close France’s hugely popular ski resorts has come as a major disappointment, with local mayors complaining of working for months. Mr MacCrone said he would reopen in January “under favorable conditions” but resisted pressure from the Italian prime minister for a European agreement.

The draft guidelines, agreed by leaders of Germany’s 16 states, are aimed at limiting social gatherings over Christmas and are scheduled to be formally formalized after a video conference with Angela Merkel on Wednesday.

From December 1, two homes and a maximum of five people can be found. Children under the age of 14 are not included in this limit.

But there may be a temporary relaxation of the rule to meet up to 10 people between 23 December and 1 January. The limit of two houses can also be increased.

The plan calls for discussions with religious communities on “measures to reduce contacts in religious services.”

Germany’s “lockdown light” will continue until December 20. Bars, restaurants and entertainment venues are closed but schools and shops are open. This is expected to be extended over the festive period.

Most of the big Christmas markets have already been canceled, but some locals are outlining plans to move forward on a smaller scale.

For the new year, fireworks displays have been canceled while letting them go on the street is likely to be frustrating.

Reports say the Spanish government is planning a “separate” festival period with a six-person approval limit in the parties.

He is ready to recommend that social gatherings be held on restaurant terraces or other outdoor venues in parts up to Christmas.

Spanish families traditionally celebrate the Feast of the Three Kings with an evening parade on January 5 and the government will recommend that the celebration not take place.

The plan also recommends ventilation of indoor spaces and maintaining social distance where necessary. But more precisely, Health Minister Salvador Ila has said that “nothing has been stoned.”

“We need to find a consensus on this [Christmas restrictions]. We will announce the action when it is decided, ”he said.

The Catalonian government hopes to allow a gathering of up to 10 people for Christmas. “We will make our own decisions,” said a spokesman for the region.

In Madrid, officials are asking the government to allow a program of mass testing in pharmacies until Christmas to allow people to meet safely during the festive period.