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In Portugal, the measures for the festive season have not yet been released, but a forecast is already possible. Last Saturday, after announcing the new measures of the state of emergency – currently in force until December 8 – António Costa launched a clue.
“I would be very surprised if there hadn’t been an emergency at Christmas, because that means that the evolution of the fight against the epidemic would have been very fast, “said the prime minister.
If the state of emergency prevails during the Christmas period, measures similar to those currently facing the country can be expected, namely restrictions on circulation at certain times and regions and early closure of shops and restaurants.
Spain limits celebrations to six people
In Spain, the Pedro Sánchez government proposed a “different” Christmas and New Year. The celebrations can only have six people and it is recommended that they take place in open spaces, such as restaurant terraces. The exception applies to families with more than six members living in the same house.
“With regard to family gatherings, we recommend that they be limited to partners. If there is going to be an external guest who does not usually live with the family, there must be a maximum of six people at this event and preventive measures must be followed ”, established the Government of Spain.
December 24 and 31 The mandatory collection that is in force in most Spanish regions will be from 11 pm to 1 am.
Despite these restrictions, the Spanish Executive hopes that the “soul and spirit” of the festive season will be maintained. Spain entered a six-month state of emergency in October.
In Catalonia, the regional government plans to allow gatherings of up to ten people at Christmas. A Catalan government spokesman said this week that this he will listen to Madrid’s proposals, but will make his own decisions.
On Tuesday, the neighboring country counted 12,228 more cases of contagion by the new coronavirus, raising the total to 1.6 million since the start of the pandemic. Deaths are already 43,668.
UK allows three-household ‘bubbles’
The UK has opted for more relaxed measures, allowing meetings of up to three households between December 23 and 27. People will be able to gather in homes, places of worship, or outside spaces and movement restrictions will be eased.
However, the Government of Boris Johnson stressed that these “Christmas circles” of people must be “exclusive” and cannot go together to bars or restaurants. Once formed, these “bubbles” of people cannot be expanded to include more elements..
Households must travel between December 23 and 27, with the exception of those traveling to or from Northern Ireland, who can travel between the ages of 22 and 28.
The measures were agreed between the leaders of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on Tuesday. “Celebrations with family and friends at Christmas must be personally decided by individuals, who must take into account the risks to themselves and others,” the four regions warned.
Before deciding to meet for the festive period, we ask that you consider alternatives such as the use of technology or celebrations in outdoor spaces ”, they added in a statement.
France relaxes measures in three phases
France, in turn, opted for a three-phase plan to relax the measures. The first starts on Saturday, with the reopening of “non-essential” shops, such as clothing and hairdressing stores, and religious spaces.
The second phase happens December 15, when the lockdown will be lifted, but only if the daily number of infections is less than five thousand. The measure will allow the population to move around the country to spend Christmas with family and friends.
Instead of a mandatory lockdown, there will be a mandatory pick-up in France between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM. Restaurants and bars will be closed during Christmas.
The third phase is scheduled for January 20. If the pandemic curve allows it, restaurants, gyms and sports centers will reopen that day.
According to President Emmanuel Macron, France has already overcome the second wave of infections with the new coronavirus, so the measures can begin to ease. But he left an alert: “If we don’t want to go through a third lockdown tomorrow, we have to step up our vigilance., protecting our loved ones, especially the most vulnerable, by using a mask, even at home when we are with friends or relatives who do not live with us ”.
Germany should allow gatherings of up to ten people
In Germany, 16 federal states are expected to approve meetings of up to ten people belonging to a maximum of two households during the festive period, with children under 14 years excluded from this calculation.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has already called on the leaders of each region to come together to provide a coherent and collective response to the German population.
The match, the relaxation of the measures will take place between December 23 and January 1. However, the country has canceled all Christmas markets.
It will be up to local authorities to determine whether to allow or prohibit the use of fireworks on the last night of the year.
Christmas in Finland and Sweden cannot be celebrated
In Finland and Sweden, Christmas celebrations may not be so easy. After a sharp increase in the number of cases in Finland, Helsinki decided to enact new restrictions and closed schools, libraries and swimming pools. Public events were also banned.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin warned on Monday that, If these measures do not work, a new state of emergency can be enacted in the country. Still, the infection rate in Finland remains the lowest in Europe, with 69 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
In Sweden, which initially and for many months opted for an anti-containment policy in the hope that herd immunity of the population would be the best method to combat SARS-CoV-2, Christmas could also be very different from usual. .
The country has already recorded 6,400 deaths and faces great pressure in nursing homes, where there is a shortage of professionals. In May, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven admitted not protecting his elders.
This month the most renowned Swedish epidemiologist told the BBC that the population of that country should prepare for the possibility of movement restrictions during the Christmas period, especially at a time when new infections occur mostly at parties and private events.
