Countries across Europe moved to reimpose harder measures to stop another rush of COVID-19 wave by the exceptionally contagious Omicron variation, with the Netherlands forcing a cross country lockdown.
Beginning Sunday, all unimportant stores, bars and cafés in the Netherlands will be shut until Jan. 14, overseer Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at a hurriedly organized news gathering Saturday night. Schools and colleges will close until Jan. 9, he said. The lockdown terms likewise get control over private special festivals. Occupants may be allowed two guests aside from Christmas and New Year’s, when four will be permitted, as per Rutte. He said the move was “unavoidable due to the fifth wave brought about by the Omicron variation that is overwhelming us.” It wasn’t only the Dutch trying to slow the spread of Omicron. Frightened clergymen in France, Cyprus and Austria fixed travel limitations. Paris dropped its New Year’s Eve firecrackers. Denmark shut theaters, show lobbies, carnivals and galleries. Ireland forced a 8 p.m. check in time on bars and bars and restricted participation at indoor and outside occasions.
