Europe begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel with the advance of the unconfined

PARIS.– Deconfinition in Italy, gradual opening in France, Spain ready to emerge from the state of emergency: with more or less differences, European countries are preparing to have a fairly normal summer thanks to a massive vaccination plan. Objective: after a catastrophic year for the tourism sector, everyone will try to save the summer season 2021 by opening the borders abroad. As much of the world faces the third wave of Covid-19, in the European Union summer temperatures and the various restrictions established in winter allow us to look forward to the coming months with optimism.

Italy

Bars, restaurants, cinemas and auditoriums partially open from April 26 in Italy, where the vast majority of regions are labeled in yellow, the lowest level of risk. Bars and restaurants can only receive people on the terraces, day and night, even if the curfew continues from 22. Some 140,000 bars, restaurants, pizzerias and rural inns have reopened. Cinemas, theaters and concert halls can receive 50% of the authorized capacity.

Depending on the country of origin, passengers must present a PCR or negative antigen test carried out less than 48 hours before travel. The country has 27% of the population vaccinated with at least one dose.

France

The lack of refinement will gradually occur in France, restrictions began to be lowered on May 3 with the disappearance of the ban on moving more than 10 kilometers from the place of residence. The start of the curfew will be from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on May 19 and on that same day will open museums, non-essential shops, terraces of bars and restaurants.

On June 9, the curfew will begin at 11 p.m., gymnasiums will reopen, while bars and restaurants will open their indoor rooms, with a limit of six people per table. The last stage was scheduled for June 30, when the curfew will end. France is also approaching 27% of the population vaccinated with a dose.

Germany

Faced with the increase in infections and the threat of new variants, Germany has instituted a national curfew from April 22 to 5 on April 22, without the authorities having yet planned a deconfinement date. Germans must wear masks in business and public transport, and traveling more than 15 kilometers from the place of residence is prohibited in cities with an incidence rate of more than 200 cases per week per 100,000 inhabitants. 32% of the German population received a dose.

Belgium

The government has just authorized the reopening of the terraces of bars and restaurants, which have been closed since the end of October. Schools also reopened on April 19, the same day the ban on foreign travel was lifted for non-compelling reasons. Hair salons and non-essential stores, as well as amusement parks, also opened last month. This weekend, the gyms opened. Belgium has around 30% of the population vaccinated with one dose.

Swiss

April 19 Switzerland has reopened its concert halls, gymnasiums, museums, libraries, outdoor cafes, restaurants and cinemas. Classes are face to face and meetings are still limited to 15 people. However, each canton reserves the right to apply additional measures. 23% of the Swiss population is vaccinated with at least one dose.

Holland

The curfew was lifted and café terraces reopened in the Netherlands on April 28. For Prime Minister Mark Rutte, this is “a very cautious step”. The bars can serve from 12 to 18 and accommodate a maximum of 50 people at the same time. The Dutch are allowed to have two guests per day at their home, instead of just one as before. In tano, 26% of the population has already been vaccinated.

Portugal

For the 415,000 Portuguese who work in the tourism sector, it was a message of hope. On May 1, the land border with Spain finally opened, closed since January. An essential gesture, because the Spaniards are the main visitors to the small Atlantic country.

On the same day, Portugal launched the last stage of its deconfinement plan, which began in mid-March. Cafes and restaurants reopened on April 19 and can now accommodate six people inside and ten on the terrace until 10:30 p.m. All sports, cultural activities, schools and universities, as well as non-essential businesses are allowed. But no one wants to relive the dramatic situation that caused the epidemic to return in January and February. For this reason, “reassure, control and vaccinate” is the government’s bet to save the 2021 summer season. Portugal has 27% of the vaccinated population.

Greece

The countdown has been on before Greece reopens to tourism, scheduled for May 15. Athens is betting on a vast vaccination campaign in the islands. According to the authorities, all the elderly on the islands of less than a thousand inhabitants have already received their vaccines and the strategy is accelerated in the larger ones.

In a country where the tourism sector represents 20% of the GDP, the lack of refinement is vital. On April 19, Athens lifted the mandatory seven-day quarantine for foreign tourists. On May 3, the bars and restaurants were able to start hosting on the terrace after six months of closure. Finally, from May 15, Greeks will be able to travel between different regions. A strict protocol has been put in place for hotels and restaurants, whose staff must undergo weekly self-tests. 23% of the population have already received at least one dose.

Spain

The Spanish government will not extend the state of health emergency beyond this Monday. In this way, there will be greater mobility between the autonomous communities and a reactivation of movements. Although there is no quarantine requirement to enter Spain, the country requires passengers from 65 countries at risk to test negative PCR. From June, tourists who present the European health certificate will be able to enter without being quarantined or presenting negative PCR tests.

Madrid, where everything is open, trusted in the future European green certificate, which should “mark a turning point in international mobility” since June. More than 28% of Spaniards have already received at least one dose.

Britain

Locked up for the third time in early January, the British saw their health situation improve dramatically in just a few weeks, thanks to a massive vaccination campaign. The country records less than 3,000 new cases and 50 deaths per day.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hoping for a return to near-normality this summer. Pupils gradually resumed their classes in March, and outdoor sporting events and social gatherings were allowed in England from March 29. Non-essential shops, hairdressers, terraces and pubs opened on April 12, while access to establishments is scheduled for May 17. At the same time, hotels, exhibition halls and stadiums will reopen, with limited capacity. Britain has already vaccinated 52% of the population with a single dose.

Argentinian income

Due to the epidemiological situation in Argentina, Chile and Brazil, and in order to maintain flights between South America and the European Union (EU), the countries of the bloc have decided to apply a mandatory quarantine of ten days to all persons authorized to enter. in the European area. They can only do this to those who have a residence or passport from some of the 27 countries in the bloc and to those who are traveling for compelling reasons (with prior request). For these passengers, a negative PCR test of less than 36 hours or a negative PCR test of 72 hours accompanied by an antigen test – also negative – of less than 24 hours is mandatory. Upon arrival in Europe, and before leaving the airport, they must undergo a new antigen test.

Meanwhile, since January 15, direct flights from Argentina – included in the list of “red” countries – to Britain have been suspended. According to UK immigration authorities, only Argentines with a UK passport or residence in the country are allowed to enter the country. In this case, passengers must take a sample on the second and eighth day after arrival.

They are also required to purchase a so-called ‘quarantine package’ which includes hotel accommodation and meals, among other things, which cost £ 1,750. Fines for non-compliance range from £ 5,000 to £ 10,000 plus jail time.