Most of the world is heading for a return to normalcy, in countries where the coronavirus pandemic situation seems to be stabilizing or improving.
The pandemic has officially claimed the lives of more than 5.8 million people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report released by AFP on Wednesday.
In absolute numbers, the United States has recorded the most deaths, followed by Brazil, India and Russia.
However, in relation to the population, the heaviest price has been paid by Peru, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Hungary and Northern Macedonia.
Denmark became the first EU member state to lift all restrictions on the pandemic, based on high vaccination coverage of its population and the lower severity of the Omicron variant.
The nightclubs reopened, while restrictions on the number of customers came. Minimum restrictive measures remain in force for entry into the country only for unvaccinated visitors arriving in Denmark from a country outside the Schengen area.
USA: In the US, the leading infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, announced a few days ago that the time has come for the country to return to normal, despite the dangers that still exist from COVID-19.
President Joe Biden, a senior medical adviser and member of the White House Anti-Coronavirus Task Force, spoke of the difficult choices the authorities are making in balancing the need to protect their citizens from growing fatigue-ridden infections. enters her third year.
The number of new cases due to Omicron has begun to decline and many US states, such as New Jersey, New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware and Oregon, are already removing the mandatory mask use for schools or others. public spaces in the coming weeks. Nevertheless, about 2,200 Americans die daily from covid-19, most of them unvaccinated.
CANADA: Canada has announced the lifting of health restrictions at its border and, in particular, the mandatory PCR test for entry into the country at a time when Quebec will be phasing out its vaccination certificate.
The country has also lifted the recommendation to avoid traveling abroad, with the country facing a wave of controversy over health measures over the past two weeks. From February 28, vaccinated passengers will not be required to have a negative PCR to enter the country.
AUSTRALIA: Nightlife in Sydney and Melbourne resumed on Friday, with authorities taking almost all restrictive measures in the country’s largest cities amid a steady decline in the number of covid-19 patients. The number of new covid imports fell by half to around 2,600, having peaked at around 5,400 over three weeks ago.
The relaxation of the rules of social distancing is taking place in view of the reopening of the country’s international borders on Monday after almost two years.
New South Wales and Victoria, home to more than half of the 25 million people, have been hit hardest by the Omicron variant and have reintroduced several severely restrictive measures last month.
Closed venues in Sydney and other New South Wales cities will now allow customers to enter, and vaccination will only be required in high-risk areas. The masks will be mandatory only on public transport and in the interiors of hospitals and airports starting from 25 February.
Mandatory hotel quarantine for unvaccinated travelers from abroad will be limited to seven days from two weeks in both states.
ISRAEL: Israel on Thursday lifted the “green pass” for entry into some public places, further easing the restrictions it had imposed as the number of new cases of covid-19 decreased.
The rules for the green pass had already been relaxed on February 4. Since then this health pass was only necessary for entry to nightclubs and event centers.
During the previous wave of covid-19, Israel adopted the “We live with covid” policy. In this way the country’s economy continued to function and schools remained open. However, some problems were observed in various sectors of the economy due to the large number of employees, students and teachers who were absent due to coronavirus or were forced into quarantine due to contact with a case.
PORTUGAL: With the number of cases due to Omicron declining, Portugal has announced that it will lift the remaining restrictions, including the mandatory display of a digital vaccination card for a hotel stay.
Citizens will continue to wear masks indoors, such as on public transport or in supermarkets, but teleworking will no longer be recommended, and those who come into contact with a case will no longer need to be isolated.
Entry to restaurants, hotels or cultural venues will no longer require the presentation of a digital vaccination certificate, disease certificate or negative test. This will continue to be required only for entry into the country by air, sea or land.
You will also not be required to take a negative test to attend major events or sporting events and to visit bars and clubs.
NETHERLANDS: The country has been moving towards lifting all restrictions since February 25, as cases and hospitalizations have been greatly reduced.
Bars, restaurants and nightclubs will return to pre-pandemic opening hours while masks will no longer be mandatory in most places.
However, visitors must present certificates of vaccination, recent illness or a negative coronavirus test.
FRANCE: The government is abolishing the compulsory use of a mask in enclosed public places, which requires a vaccination pass to enter.
Admission to discos and bars and concert venues will be allowed again.
The masks will remain mandatory for public transport and for enclosed spaces where the vaccination pass is not required.
The new regulation, which takes effect on February 28, is in line with a recommendation from the health council and follows the reduction in the rate of infection recorded in the country.
And it is likely that from the middle of next month it will go further, easing the obligation regarding the masks and the display of vaccination certificates, as the cases are reduced.
SPAIN: The country lifted the mandatory mask use outdoors on February 10 as coronavirus infections continued to fall from record levels.
Masks remain mandatory at large outdoor gatherings, such as concerts, indoors, and on public transportation, but almost all districts were the measure of Covid certification for entry to bars and nightclubs.
The government is going to lift the restrictions on sports events from March 4, and the stadiums will be able to accept fans at 100% of their capacity, that is, what was in force before the pandemic.
ITALY: Mandatory use of the mask outdoors has been abolished since last week. Citizens should wear it only in case of crowds.
The use of the mask indoors remains valid until March 31.
Also discos and clubs have reopened and access is only allowed to those citizens who have received at least two doses of vaccine or become ill.
AUSTRIA: Most pandemic restrictions will be lifted from March 5. The use of a protective mask will now be mandatory only in workplaces, supermarkets, doctor’s offices, hospitals and nursing homes, while restaurants will operate for everyone and without time limit.
SWITZERLAND: Switzerland lifted almost all pandemic restrictions by Thursday. The government announced that only the obligation to use a mask on public transport and health infrastructure will remain in force, but the mandatory five-day quarantine for those who tested positive for coronavirus will also remain in force until the end of March.
However, shops, restaurants and cultural sites will be freely accessible.
More than 90% of Switzerland’s 8.6 million people have been protected against the virus, either because they have recovered from COVID-19 or because they have been vaccinated.
Despite the fact that tens of thousands of new cases are recorded every day, the health system has endured and the coverage rate in the intensive care units has decreased.
GERMANY: The relaxation of the restrictive measures will take place gradually until March 20, which is now defined as “Freedom Day”. In the first stage, from March 4, private gatherings will be allowed again without limitation on the number of participants.
However, if people who have not been vaccinated participate, then until March 19 the rule for meeting up to two people from different households will continue, with the exception of children under 14 years old.
Restrictions on access to retail are being lifted at the same time, where only vaccinated and sick people currently have access. However, the use of a mask with a recommendation for FFP-2 will remain mandatory.
From March 4, vaccinated and sick people and those who submit a negative diagnostic test of the same day will be able to visit the restaurants, while the clubs will be allowed to enter only those vaccinated with the three doses or patients who present a negative test.
From March 20, all extended protection measures will be abolished, as well as the obligation of teleworking, but the mandatory use of a mask in all interiors and means of transport as well as the rules of social distancing will remain in force.
BELGIUM: The country lifted from yesterday the limit that had been imposed on the opening hours of the stores. This means that the restaurant, including bars and restaurants, will no longer have restrictions on their opening hours.
In addition, the clubs reopen and all events will be allowed whether they are open or closed.
Teleworking is no longer mandatory, and for visitors to Belgium, who come from EU and Schengen countries or from other countries, but have a valid vaccination or disease certificate, will be able to enter the country without additional conditions. , you just need to fill out an arrival form.
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