Coronavirus, London | Helene celebrates Christmas in London: – Now it’s completely calm here



[ad_1]

The metropolis is almost unrecognizable.

After several meetings in the government on Friday night and Saturday, the British prime minister announced new infection control measures yesterday afternoon.

In London, among other places, a fourth, even stricter level has been introduced. In practice, this means a near complete shutdown.

– Now it’s completely quiet here in London, Helene Iversby tells Nettavisen on Sunday afternoon.

Due to the new restrictions, you have no choice – it will be Christmas in London this year, but that’s exactly what you’ve been doing for a while:

– Already this fall, I understood that it was a bit difficult to travel to Norway this year. It feels very sad, and now with the new level 4 restrictions it also feels more isolated. Fortunately, I have been able to buy Norwegian Christmas food from a Scandinavian shop here in London.

Iversby says he got the ribs, medister cakes and Christmas sausages, but points out that there will be no lutefisk this year.

– I am also fortunate to have received a little bit from each member of the family at home, from Christmas candy to sauerkraut and Christmas sodas! I really appreciate that you take such good care of me!

He says it is a bit sad to celebrate Christmas in a bus in the British city:

– Ideally, I should have celebrated at home with my family, and now it’s been a year since I was last home, so I miss them so much! Family and friends at home understand that this year is a difficult year and that it is difficult to get home. 2020 is really a different year.

Also read: Stop the new virus variant: – Consideration of introducing more measures

A key part of the cause of the new fourth level is a new variant of the coronavirus, which according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson can be up to 70 percent more contagious than usual.

“This is spreading very fast,” Johnson said Saturday.

Both Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands are now stopping entry from the UK. Germany and France consider the same.

In this country, “new measures” are also being considered, according to Bent Høie. Iversby fully understands this:

– We are in a pretty sad situation here right now, and I don’t want to see Norway with such strict restrictions as we have here! From a perspective from here, Norway is very lucky to have such simple measures relative to what we have here. For example, we’ve had requirements for wearing masks on public transportation and work since June, and in stores since July. Here you can be fined up to 11,000 crowns if you don’t wear a mask, the Norwegian tells Nettavisen.

In the future, residents of Level 4 areas must stay home, with very few exceptions. Shops, gyms, leisure facilities, and other services deemed non-critical should be closed. People have to work from the home office if they can and cannot spend the night away from home.

The new rules were implemented at midnight Sunday night.

Also read: Boris Johnson: the new variant of the virus spreads faster: 70 percent more contagious

Travel restrictions have also been introduced: in the future, people will not be able to enter or leave the Level 4 areas, causing chaos on Saturday night.

Iversby works every day at a London university, and what happens after Christmas remains highly uncertain.

Also read: People flee London – now they are arrested: –⁠ Christmas has been canceled

She still hopes she can return home safely soon:

– Of course I hope it will be possible to go home in the spring of 2021, maybe I can celebrate May 17 at home!

Advertising

What day is Christmas Eve this year?

[ad_2]