Covid-19: what restrictions are still applied abroad?

We are in the midst of the ninth wave of Covid-19, as evidenced by the many experts and officials who have been busy sounding the alarm bells in recent weeks. Brigitte Autran, President of Covars, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and even François Braun, the Minister of Health, were unequivocal: the threat is brewing for the French public hospital.

Indeed, the risk of a so-called “triple epidemic” of Covid-19, bronchiolitis and influenza, worries many because it could again lead to the overload of French health establishments. For the moment, the return of the obligation to wear a mask, or the reinstatement of the health or vaccination pass do not seem to be envisaged by the French government.

Internationally, some countries have maintained the restrictions linked to the pandemic for varying periods of time, and with more or less strict controls or sanctions in the event of non-compliance with the rules. In China, following violent demonstrations, the zero Covid policy is just beginning to lose ground, as reported by our colleagues from The Independent.

Even within the European continent, the Covid restrictions are very far from being the same everywhere. No more European harmonization ambitions! Legislative responses to the pandemic continue to be made in a very territorialized way. Moreover, some States with a less centralized structure than France are handing over more and more responsibilities relating to the pandemic to regional entities: the “Länder” in Germany or the “comunidades autónomas” in Spain.

If the rise in cases continues, there could be a reintroduction of restrictions in France. The executive would then be likely to draw inspiration from the ways of doing things of its European neighbors. Find below the measures applied across certain European countries, to find out what could come into force shortly in France, according to the whole Europe site.