Several countries have taken steps to lift restrictions placed on their populations in recent months to combat the spread of the highly contagious omicron variant.
The variant has proved less of a threat than the delta variant, a fact that has convinced many world leaders to transition from a wartime footing against the coronavirus to acceptance that it is not going to be eliminated anytime soon.
Netherlands
The Dutch government said this week that it would lift the stringent rules imposed on the public last month that effectively shut down bars, restaurants, and museums. Now, businesses such as cafes, bars, and restaurants will be allowed to stay open until 10 p.m., but only to people who show proof of vaccination or recent recovery from a coronavirus infection.
Cases are climbing in the Netherlands — roughly 59,000 cases are reported each day. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the government is “taking a risk” in lifting restrictions. Still, deaths due to COVID-19 are low, with about nine deaths occurring each day and the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals at its lowest point since November 2021.
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Denmark
Starting Feb. 1, restrictions on business operating hours, the use of COVID-19 vaccine passports, and required masking in indoor public spaces will be gone. The transition reflects a growing mood across the continent of acceptance that the coronavirus will be a fixture in society for the foreseeable future and governments will have to confront waves as they arise.
“The pandemic is still here, but with what we know, we now dare to believe that we are through the critical phase,” said Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, calling this transition “a milestone.”
While cases of COVID-19 in Denmark are increasing — roughly 7,300 new cases were reported daily in the week ending Jan. 26 — severe cases are on the decline. Government tracking shows that daily tallies of patients being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units have fallen steadily over the past three weeks, from 73 on Jan. 11 to 33 on Jan. 28.
Italy
Italy will ease travel restrictions on other European countries starting from Feb. 1 as long as people can show proof of vaccination, recent recovery, or a negative test in a digital documentation system known as the “green pass.” European travelers to Italy will no longer have to take a test before arrival provided they can show their green pass.
Just over a month ago, Italian officials extended the COVID-19 state of emergency to March 31, which would require travelers to get tested right before their trips. The state of emergency was set to expire last month but was renewed amid climbing infections due to the omicron variant.
Belgium
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced last week that restrictions on businesses and entertainment venues would be loosened slightly starting Jan. 28. Bars and restaurants can remain open one hour longer, until midnight, but nightclubs remain closed. Indoor businesses such as bowling alleys, paintball and laser tag centers, indoor playgrounds, casinos, and sporting events venues will be able to open, though masking is still required.
While rolling back many restrictions, the government imposed another weighty requirement. People will need to get booster shots after five months in order to maintain COVID-19 passes that give them access to bars, movie theaters, and other entertainment venues. Still, people can get around that five-month limit with a negative test result or recent recovery from infection.
Portugal
Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced a series of loosened COVID-19 restrictions earlier this month. Schools opened on schedule on Jan. 10. Nightclubs and bars reopened a week later, having been shuttered since Dec. 25, to everyone who could produce proof of a negative test.
The government also introduced incentives for people to get an extra booster dose. Those who have gotten their boosters will no longer need to show a negative coronavirus test result to attend public events where it would otherwise be required. People who have gotten a booster shot also do not have to self-isolate if they are exposed to a coronavirus-positive person.
United Kingdom
People no longer have to wear masks in public or present proof of vaccination to enter event venues and businesses such as restaurants and pubs. The restrictions on movement placed on the public in early December to slow the spread of the omicron variant were known as “plan B.”
“Because of the extraordinary booster campaign, together with the way the public have responded to the Plan B measures, we can return to plan A in England and allow plan B regulations to expire as a result from the start of Thursday next week,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last week.
France
Prime Minister Jean Castex announced last week that audience capacity limits for concert halls, sporting matches, and other events will be lifted from Feb. 2. Until then, a maximum of 2,000 people indoors or 5,000 outdoors is permitted. People will also be permitted to ditch their face masks when outdoors. By mid-February, nightclubs may reopen. People will also be able to eat and drink at stadiums, movie theaters, and public transport. Castex justified easing the restrictions with France’s new vaccine pass, which will require people to present proof of full vaccination to enter public venues such as restaurants and museums.
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Ireland
Almost all COVID-19 restrictions expired last weekend. While masks are still required until Feb. 28, outdoor and indoor event capacities were scrapped, as well as early closing times and six-to-a-table rules for pubs and restaurants.
Cases in Ireland have been on a consistent decline over the past month. Hospitalizations have also continued to fall, going from a high 1,026 patients admitted during the week ending Jan. 9 to 775 during the week ending Jan. 23.
