Nations across Europe are re-imposing tougher measures to curb a new wave of Covid infections spurred by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, with the Netherlands leading the way by imposing a nationwide lockdown from today (Sunday). All non-essential stores, bars and restaurants will be closed until January 14th, and Schools and universities will shut until January 10th.
In what is sure to prove a major disappointment, the lockdown terms also affect private holiday celebrations at home. People will only be permitted two visitors except for Christmas and New Year’s, when four will be allowed, according to Prime Minister, Mark Rutte.
“The Netherlands is going into lockdown again from tomorrow,” he said in the emergency press conference at 9pm last night, adding that the move was “unavoidable because of the fifth wave caused by the Omicron variant that is bearing down on us.”
“I can hear the whole of the Netherlands sighing,” Rutte said in his lockdown announcement. “All this, exactly one week before Christmas. Another Christmas that is completely different from what we want. Very bad news again for all those businesses and cultural institutions that rely on the holidays.”
However, it isn’t just the Dutch seeking to slow the spread of Omicron. Alarmed ministers in France, Cyprus, and Austria have tightened travel restrictions, Paris has cancelled its New Year’s Eve fireworks, Denmark has closed theatres, concert halls, amusement parks, and museums, and Ireland has imposed an 8pm curfew on pubs and bars, and limited attendance at indoor and outdoor events.
London mayor, Sadiq Khan, underscored the official concern about the climbing cases and their potential to overwhelm the health care system by declaring a major incident in the city yesterday, a move that allows local councils in England’s capital to coordinate work more closely with emergency services.
Irish Prime Minister, Micheal Martin, captured the sense of the continent in an address to the nation, saying the new restrictions were needed to protect lives and livelihoods from the resurgent virus.
“None of this is easy,” Martin said Friday night. “We are all exhausted with Covid and the restrictions it requires. The twists and turns, the disappointments and the frustrations take a heavy toll on everyone. But it is the reality that we are dealing with.”
The World Health Organization reported Saturday that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has now been detected in 89 countries, and Covid cases involving the variant are doubling every 1.5 to 3 days in places with community transmission and not just infections acquired abroad, and that its “substantial growth rate” over the Delta variant means it is likely to soon overtake Delta as the dominant form of the virus in countries where the new variant is spreading locally.
