Omicron gallops. Passed between tampons and renunciations of Christmas dinners and lunches, Europe tries to contain the wave also for New Year but looks above all to the next few weeks, to the return to work and to school after the holidays. And so France – which on Christmas Eve exceeded 100,000 new infections for the first time – has decided to introduce the “vaccinal pass” (the equivalent of the Italian Super Green pass) from January 15, with the consent of parliament. for restaurants, cinemas and gyms and all indoor activities.
Traveling for New Year’s Eve in the time of Covid: all the restrictions and tips on what to do
by Anais Ginori, Enrico Franceschini, Tonia Mastrobuoni, Alessandro Oppes, Andrea Tarquini
“A simple swab will no longer be enough”, explained the premier Jean Castex at a press conference after the council of ministers on video conference (in the last few hours the Minister for Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili was also positive), insisting on the intention to strengthen “our shield” against the virus. To the point that, starting tomorrow, it will be possible to book the third dose of vaccine, or booster, just 3 months after the second, as also decided by Israel, which has meanwhile started the administration of the fourth. Castex has also announced tougher penalties for peddling fake Green Passes. Furthermore, from 3 January it will no longer be possible to consume in the standing rooms but only at the table, the big events will be limited to 2 thousand people indoors, 5 thousand outdoors, and it will return to mandatory smart working for at least 3 days a week.
Macron says no to swabs between EU states but follows Italy on the Super Green Pass
by our correspondent Anais Ginori
As happens in Italy, then, Paris also reflects on the need to reduce the days of isolation of the contacts of a positive in order not to find themselves in January with a paralyzed country. “The new rules will be announced by the end of the week,” the premier warned. For the New Year, however, the “recommendations” of Christmas were reiterated, namely to avoid large parties and gatherings, to use masks and undergo preventive tests.