new restrictions at European level

This is the word that the inhabitants of the Netherlands feared to hear, Saturday, December 18: confinement. It has just been announced by the government after an emergency meeting. The measure will take effect on Sunday December 19, until January 14 minimum. Restaurants, non-essential businesses and the cultural sector will again have to close. The country will also step up its vaccination campaign. In Ireland, the word that annoys it is curfew. Explosion of cases, compulsory closure at 8 p.m. for bars, pubs and restaurants, a new blow for professionals in the sector. “8pm is like a closure, let’s be honest. We were already on restricted hours but now it’s becoming very difficult to envision the future”, says Cormac Cronin, owner of several restaurants in Waterford (Ireland).

As the holidays approach, traveling in Europe will also become more difficult. In Germany, the word of the day: quarantine. Ten days of isolation imposed on non-vaccinated French travelers and children under 12 years old. Cross-border workers are not affected. France is also considered a country at risk by Portugal, Italy and Greece, which require a negative test, including for those vaccinated.