Countries strengthen measures against the Omicron ‘tsunami’: remote work, closed rails and more measures | the health

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Below, see announcements made on Monday (27) by countries such as Germany, France, China, Greece, the United States and Italy:

Restrictions planned to start after Christmas will already apply in some states from Monday.

• Group meetings (indoor or outdoor) with a maximum of 10 people who have been vaccinated or have recovered from the disease.
• If a non-vaccinated person attends a meeting, the restrictions become stricter, as family members are limited to meeting with a maximum of two people from another home.
• In many areas, gyms, public swimming pools, nightclubs and cinemas have been closed, with restaurants and bars open during limited hours. Large cultural and sporting events should be held without an audience.

The mandatory use of masks remains in effect on public transport and in commerce. Access to public places will remain restricted to those who have been vaccinated or recovered.

In France, where on Saturday 100,000 new cases were overcome for the first time in 24 hours since the beginning of the epidemic, the current health passport must be replaced with a vaccination passport, which means that vaccination (or treatment) will be mandatory by Covid), in addition to receiving a booster dose To enter certain places.

The country has also decided that it will make work at home mandatory at least three days a week, Prime Minister Jan Casteks announced on Monday. Compulsory remote work takes effect on the third day and is valid for three weeks.

Large gatherings will be limited to 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 people outdoors, including in sports fields.

• Brazil: Experts say that despite the decline in cases and deaths, the potential for a new outbreak of Covid-19 exists

Greece announced on Monday the return of remote work for at least 50% of workers in the public and private sectors between January 3 and 16. Restaurants, bars, cafes and nightclubs must close at midnight.

Last week, the government imposed the mandatory use of masks at home and abroad and canceled year-end celebrations.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have enacted new restrictions that include a limit on the total number of people dating, pub operation and social distancing. Meanwhile, in England, the government is waiting for more evidence about whether the health service can handle the rising infection rates.

British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the micronized variant of the virus, which is highly transmissible, now accounts for about 90% of cases across England and urged people to celebrate the New Year with caution.

The Chinese city of Xi’an on Monday announced stricter supervision measures. Residents of the metropolis of 13 million people are banned from driving and can only leave their homes every three days.

In the historic city, all non-essential businesses were closed and residents were locked up for four days.

The circulation of vehicles, except for those who help in disease control work, has also been banned. Police and health care workers must “strictly” inspect cars. Violators can be sentenced to 10 days in prison and a fine of 500 yuan (about 450 Brazilian reais).

Chinese authorities are calling for a “zero Covid” policy in an effort to control the outbreak, especially ahead of the Winter Olympics, which are being held in just over a month in Beijing.

On Thursday, the government tightened restrictions to curb the spread of infection, including banning all public celebrations of the New Year and closing nightclubs and nightclubs until January 31 in an attempt to prevent mass socialization.

Now, the final debate over quarantine rules. Health experts advised the government to change the deadlines. Under current rules, people who have been in close contact with a Covid-19 carrier must be isolated for seven days if vaccinated and 10 days otherwise.

Nino Cartapeluta, president of the Jimbe Health Foundation, said that each positive case has, on average, five to 10 close contacts and predicted that within two weeks, up to one million people across the country could be infected with Covid-19. .

The US health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on Monday (27) updated its isolation guidelines for confirmed cases of Covid-19. the The recommended time is 10 to 5 days, Followed by continuous use of the mask for another 5 days when the patient is in contact with other people.

Also Monday, President Joe Biden warned governors that a sudden spike in cases was likely to overwhelm some hospitals, particularly in areas where a high percentage of the population is not vaccinated.

Biden declined to say whether he supports a vaccine demand for domestic flights, another measure that government officials have discussed in recent days.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top authority on infectious diseases, on Monday urged people to avoid New Year’s gatherings to slow the rise in cases caused by omicrons.