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Germany has recorded a daily record of 952 coronavirus-related deaths as stores, schools and daycare centers across the country are closed due to an emergency Christmas closure.
After experiencing a relatively low number of infections and deaths compared to other European countries in the spring, Germany’s disease control agency has recorded more than 400 deaths for 11 days in a row.
Wednesday’s figure of 952 deaths was artificially inflated by the fact that Saxony, one of the federal states hardest hit by the second wave, also provided figures that its health authorities had not reported by Monday.
France It reopened nonessential stores this month, allowing holiday shopping to begin. But an increase in new infections since then means that while travel is allowed beginning December 15, a nationwide curfew will begin from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., lifting on December 24, but not the Christmas Day or New Years Eve. Bars and restaurants won’t reopen until January and private gatherings are limited to six adults.
GermanyThe “closing light”, with bars and restaurants closed since November, has not proven effective and the country has closed more, closing all essential bar shops (such as supermarkets and pharmacies), as well as hair and beauty salons. until at least 10 January. A maximum of five people from two households can meet, except on December 24, 25 and 26, when up to four close relatives from other households can be invited.
AustriaThe strict lockdown has ended and the country is carrying out a massive program of 10 million tests over the next fortnight with the goal of allowing more families to reunite during the holiday period. The Christmas markets have been canceled.
ItalyThe prime minister has said that stricter restrictions will be needed during the holiday period, but these have yet to be announced. Interregional travel is already prohibited from December 20 to January 6, except for work, health or emergency reasons, and Italians cannot leave their home cities on Christmas, Saint Stephen or New Year’s Day. Midnight Mass on December 24 was brought forward so that the faithful can return home before curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. across the country.
Spain has called for people to be held accountable, but will allow movement between regions “for family reasons” between December 23 and January 6. Regional curfews, which run from 10 p.m. to midnight, will be delayed until 1.30 a.m. M. On December 24 and 31, when the meeting limit will be raised from six to ten, a measure that will also apply on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
the Netherlands has imposed a harsh Christmas blockade, closing non-essential shops and businesses, gyms, museums, cinemas and theaters for five weeks until January 19. Bars and restaurants have been closed since mid-October. Schools are shifting to online learning and people are being advised to stay home. Households can invite up to two people a day, except from December 24 to 26, when the maximum limit is raised to three, excluding children under 13 years of age.
Belgium It has said that households can be in close contact with only one additional person during the Christmas period, although people living alone will be able to meet two others. Fireworks will be banned on New Years Eve to limit gatherings.
Poland It will allow people to spend Christmas with only their immediate family, with no more than five guests to be invited to each home until at least December 27, and travel outside of people’s home cities will be prohibited.
Brittany is relaxing restrictions on the “Christmas bubble” holidays that allow up to three households to mingle between December 23-27. Scientists, government advisers and medical experts have called for an urgent rethink, suggesting the move could result in a disastrous third wave in the New Year.
Jon henley Correspondent in Europe
Yet even without the 153 coronavirus-related deaths recorded in the eastern state, Wednesday’s figures represent a record for the country. The previous peak, reached less than a week ago, was 598.
The Robert Koch Institute reported 27,728 new infections Wednesday, an increase of 33% on the same day last week. The total number of infections in Germany since the beginning of the pandemic stands at 1,379,238. Since then, just over 1 million of those cases have been recorded as recovered from the virus.
Germany’s schools switched to online learning for the last three days of the term from Wednesday, while most nurseries offered care only for children of parents with an “extraordinarily urgent need”.
Main streets across the country were quiet after a pre-Christmas rush earlier in the week, with only supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies and other essential stores open.
Christmas tree vendors may continue to trade, while bookstores may offer “click and collect” services.
Restrictions on social gatherings will be relaxed from December 24-26, allowing each home to be visited by four family members over the age of 14. Those planning to spend Christmas with their families are urged to limit social contacts to “an absolute minimum” in the coming week.
The lockdown restrictions will remain in effect until January 10, but could be extended if infection rates do not decrease.
In a week of gloomy news in the dead of winter, many in Germany welcomed Tuesday’s announcement that the European Medicines Agency had moved up its decision day for the BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine to Monday, December 21, meaning that the EU countries could start immunizing people before the end of the year.
Coronavirus cases in Germany
Health Minister Jens Spahn of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) predicted Tuesday that the new lockdown would take time to manifest itself in a clear downward trend in daily numbers.
As a result, Spahn told ntv broadcaster, some restrictions would have to remain in effect beyond January 10, even after people are being vaccinated.
“Just because we are starting the vaccination program, shortly after Christmas, it does not mean we will no longer need rules,” he said.
Still, he was hoping there would be a gradual return to normal from the summer: “That’s a prospect you can deal with,” Spahn said.
