Over the past 10 weeks, omicron has caused more cases of the disease – 90 million – worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, than other strains in all of 2020. Despite this, many countries, especially in Europe, are easing restrictions to fight the pandemic.
The WHO acknowledges that some countries should consider relaxing rules if they can boast high vaccination rates, strong health systems and favorable epidemiological curves. At the same time, the UN Health Agency also warned that the danger of "omicron" should not be underestimated, even if in most cases it leads to a milder course of the disease.
“We are concerned that there is an entrenched view in some countries that thanks to vaccines – and the high transmissibility and lesser severity of omicron – preventing transmission of the virus is no longer possible or necessary,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Gheybreisus said at a pandemic briefing. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Denmark has become the first European country to lift all restrictions on its territory as the government says the coronavirus is no longer considered a "socially critical disease". This means that the mandatory wearing of masks indoors, the use of "green passes" in bars, restaurants and other closed establishments, as well as the legal obligation to self-isolate in the event of a positive test, are cancelled.
Sweden is also waiving all restrictions . “The time has come to open up Sweden,” Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said. “The pandemic is not over, but it is entering a new phase.”
The UK, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and several other countries have also taken steps to end or ease restrictions.
Last week, England lifted almost all domestic restrictions: masks are no longer required in public places, “vaccine passports” are no longer needed to get to events or restaurants, and the ban on working from home has been lifted. One requirement remains: those who test positive must still self-isolate.
Norway has lifted the ban on the sale of alcohol after 11 p.m., as well as the ban on the presence of no more than 10 people at private events. Travelers arriving at the border are no longer required to take a coronavirus test before entry. At fixed seating events, people will again be able to sit elbow to elbow, and sports events will take place as in pre-pandemic times.
As during the pandemic, many countries are going their own way. Italy, on the contrary, has tightened the requirements for medical passes during the omicron epidemic. To visit banks and post offices, a test must be taken within the previous 48 hours, and those over 50 who have not been vaccinated face a fine of 100 euros.
Austria, which was the first European country to introduce mandatory vaccinations, plans to loosen some restrictions this month , such as allowing restaurants to open later. Greece has introduced fines for people aged 60 and over who refuse to be vaccinated.
In Germany, where the number of infections continues to break daily records and officials remain concerned about the large number of unvaccinated older people, restrictions remain, such as a ban on private gatherings and the requirement to show vaccination or recovery documents to enter non-essential stores. important. The country's leadership plans to consider the situation on February 16.
In the Netherlands, where until recently a complete lockdown was in place, restrictions are also being lifted, despite the fact that the number of diseases continues to break records. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the government is "consciously looking to the frontiers of the possible". Cafes, bars and restaurants that have been closed since mid-December can now operate at reduced capacity until 10pm if visitors have a green pass; cinemas, theatres, museums and sporting events can also receive visitors.
In other parts of the world, they are even more cautious. Some of the world's highest vaccination rates are in Asia, which has not been spared by previous viral outbreaks that barely affected Europe, such as SARS and MERS. Governments here are sticking to stricter lockdown measures or even tightening them for now.
On the eve of the Winter Olympics, China is sticking to its official "zero tolerance" policy despite the fact that 85% of the country's population is fully vaccinated. Beijing is imposing strict restrictions and quarantines upon detecting any cases of illness, and continues to require people to wear masks on public transport and prove green status to enter most restaurants and shops.
Singapore, which boasts Asia's highest vaccination rate, with 87% of the eligible population receiving at least two doses, is maintaining restrictions despite "transition to COVID-19 resistance" to begin in August. The city-state reserves the right to relax or tighten the rules depending on the situation.
In Japan, where almost 80% of the population is fully vaccinated, no mandatory restrictions have been imposed, but they continue to urge the public to wear masks and observe social distancing rules, as well as asking restaurants to reduce opening hours.
In the United States, most coronavirus containment orders are implemented at the local level, although nearly all states are considered “red” by federal officials . “We know that much remains to be done to stop the spread of COVID-19 and end the pandemic. We are still seeing too many new cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” said Kristen Nordlund, spokeswoman for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.