The Associated Press
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LONDON –
Nations across Europe have once again taken stricter measures to contain a new wave of COVID-19 infections triggered by the highly communicable variant of Omicron, including a new nationwide lockdown put in place by the Dutch government.
Schools, universities and all non-essential shops, bars and restaurants in the Netherlands will be closed from Sunday until January 14, said Acting Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Saturday evening. Residents are only allowed two visitors, except for Christmas and New Years when four are allowed, he said.
« The Netherlands will be suspended again from tomorrow, » said Rutte, adding that the move was « inevitable because of the fifth wave caused by the Omicron variant that is weighing on us ».
Before the Dutch announcement, alarmed ministers in France, Cyprus and Austria tightened travel restrictions. Paris has canceled its New Years Eve fireworks. Denmark has closed theaters, concert halls, amusement parks and museums. Ireland imposed a 8 p.m. Curfew in pubs and bars and limited participation in indoor and outdoor events.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan underscored official concern about the climbing incidents and their potential to overwhelm the health system by declaring a serious incident on Saturday.
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin captured the feeling of the continent in an address to the nation, saying the new restrictions are needed to protect lives and livelihoods from the resurgent virus.
« None of this is easy, » said Martin on Friday evening. « We are all exhausted from COVID and the restrictions that come with it. The twists and turns, disappointments and 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 been detected in 89 countries and the COVID-19 cases involving the variant occur every 1.5 to 3 days in locations with communal transmission, not just at Double infections acquired abroad.
Important questions about Omicron remain unanswered, including the effectiveness of existing COVID-19 vaccines against it and whether the variant causes serious illness in many infected people, the WHO noted.
However, Omicron’s « significant growth advantage » over the Delta variant means it will likely soon overtake Delta as the dominant form of the virus in countries where the new variant is spreading locally, the UN health agency said.
In the Netherlands, the expectation that a government meeting on Saturday would result in tighter restrictions would lead to shoppers swarming into business parks in Dutch cities fearing this would be their last chance to buy Christmas presents.
The city council of Rotterdam tweeted that there was « too much going on in the center » of the port city and told people: « Don’t come into the city. » Amsterdam also warned that the city’s main shopping street was busy and urged people to adhere to the coronavirus rules.
In the UK, where confirmed daily cases hit record numbers this week, the government has re-mandated the wearing of masks indoors, ordering proof of vaccination or a recent negative coronavirus test when visiting nightclubs and major events.
Critics of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s recent coronavirus restrictions flooded Oxford Street, a popular shopping district in London, on Saturday. The maskless protesters blew their whistles, shouted « Freedom! » and asked passers-by to remove their face coverings.
Hundreds of people blocked traffic while marching with signs with slogans such as « Vaccine passports kill our freedoms » and « Failure to comply ». Other signs had the faces of Johnson or the British Health Secretary Sajid Javid and read, « Give them the boot. »
Scientists are warning the UK government that it needs to go further to avoid overburdening hospitals.
Leaked minutes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies suggested a ban on indoor mixing and hospitality, the BBC reported.
The UK and other nations are also accelerating the pace of booster vaccinations after early data showed two doses of vaccine were less effective against the Omicron variant. Shopping malls, cathedrals and football stadiums in the UK have been converted into mass vaccination centers.
During a visit to a pop-up mass vaccination clinic at the Chelsea football club’s stadium on Saturday, Khan said that the rapidly expanding variant could hamper public services.
« The big problem we have is the number of Londoners who have this virus and that creates huge problems in terms of staff absenteeism and the ability of our public services to function optimally, » he told the BBC. « I am incredibly concerned about the absence of staff from the (National Health Service), the fire department, the police force, our councils across London. »
Omicron is now the predominant variant of the coronavirus in London and efforts have stepped up to reach people who have not yet been vaccinated or boosted.
« I want to make a direct appeal to the more than 1 million Londoners who have still signed up for COVID-19 vaccinations – it’s never too late to get your first or second dose, » the Mayor said. « It will help protect you, your loved ones, and our NHS. »
In France, the government has announced that it will start giving the vaccine to children between the ages of 5 and 11 from Wednesday. Prime Minister Jean Castex said Friday that the government had proposed requiring proof of vaccination for those entering restaurants, cafes and other public places as the Omicron variant spreads like a « bolt of lightning ». The pending measure requires the approval of Parliament.
Thousands of opponents of mandatory vaccinations and mask requirements protested on Saturday in Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf and other German cities. In Austria, local media reported that the crowd had swelled to tens of thousands.
Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands. Courtney Bonnell in London; Emily Schultheis in Vienna; and Thomas Adamson in Paris, contributed to this report.
Shoppers will be walking along Oxford Street, Europe’s busiest shopping street, in London on Saturday, December 18, 2021. Rising infections in the UK, caused in part by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, are shaking Europe. . (AP photo / Frank Augstein)
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