Worldwide coronavirus update: closure of bars and restaurants in Belgium
Europe's New COVID-19 Regulations: What You Need to Know
European cities and nations are tightening up their COVID-19 guidelines as infections spike once again. Here's a lowdown on the fresh rules in Brussels, Scotland, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
Belgium: starting Thursday, bars and eateries in Brussels will shut down for a month, as reported by Almaty.tv, citing euronews.com. Alexander De Croo, the new Prime Minister, is monitoring the situation closely across the kingdom, with both the Flemish and Walloon regions witnessing an increase in infections and hospitalizations. From Friday, catering establishments will remain open until 11 pm, and social gatherings should be limited to a maximum of three individuals.
Scotland: From October 9, cafes, pubs, billiard halls, and casinos in five central Scottish council areas, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, will be closed for two weeks. Residents are encouraged to stay within their areas. The new measures come after Scotland reported over a thousand coronavirus cases in a day for the first time. Hotel restaurants can remain open after 6 pm, but only for residents. Other hospitality venues can continue to operate, but must close by 6 pm, serving only food and non-alcoholic drinks indoors.
Italy: With 3,678 new cases reported in a single day, Italy has extended the state of emergency until January 31, 2021. From Thursday, masks will be mandatory outdoors. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte warns of hefty fines for those who flout this rule, reaching up to 1,000 euros. Conte also encourages mask use at home to protect loved ones.
Czech Republic: On Monday, a state of emergency was reinstated for 30 days due to a record-high 4,457 new cases in a day.
Beyond these areas, life in Europe continues relatively unhindered. The EU, including countries like Belgium, Scotland, Italy, and the Czech Republic, is prioritizing pandemic preparedness, vaccine cooperation, and maintaining health surveillance systems. Current COVID-19 border controls and travel restrictions have largely been lifted, with countries like Italy treating the virus as a managed endemic disease rather than an emergency.
- The increased COVID-19 cases in Europe have led to discussions in the realm of 'policy-and-legislation', with new regulations being implemented in countries like Belgium, Scotland, Italy, and the Czech Republic to combat the spike.
- In the realm of 'health-and-wellness', stricter measures are being enforced in several European cities, such as limiting social gatherings in Brussels and closing certain establishments in Scotland.
- The 'medical-conditions' and 'politics' of the COVID-19 pandemic are intertwined in Europe, with leaders like Giuseppe Conte in Italy imposing fines for non-compliance with mask-wearing rules, and the European Union prioritizing vaccine cooperation to manage the virus.
