Germany is tightening rules for those entering the country from the UK ahead of Christmas to prevent the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. As reported on Saturday, December 18, at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), from December 20, the UK will be declared a “zone for the spread of coronavirus variants.” In recent days, the situation in the United Kingdom has deteriorated sharply due to the lightning-fast spread of a new mutation.
The designation of a country as the zone of distribution of coronavirus variants indicates the highest hazard category. The UK will be considered such a zone until January 3, but this status may be extended, the RKI noted.
In accordance with the restrictions, which will take effect at midnight on December 20, airlines will be able to deliver from the UK to Germany mainly only citizens and residents of Germany. At the same time, there is no talk of a ban on flights. The rule also applies to rail or sea transport. All those returning from the UK will be required to comply with a two-week quarantine, including those who are fully vaccinated and have recovered from the coronavirus. The self-isolation period cannot be shortened even if the tests for the virus show a negative result.
London Mayor Declares “Significant Accident” Regime
On Friday, December 17, in the UK, the maximum daily increase in infected people for the entire pandemic was recorded – 93 thousand new cases. On Saturday, another 90,418 infected were added to them. The number of hospitalized people is also growing. At the same time, the share of infections with the omicron variant is rapidly increasing: on Saturday, 10,059 infections with this mutation were registered – three times more than the day before. In total, about 25,000 infections with the omicron variant of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the United Kingdom.
In London, where the omicron has already supplanted the delta, the mayor of the city, Sadiq Khan, has declared a “significant incident” regime. Local hospitals are reportedly preparing to transfer staff from other departments to the intensive care unit, as many of the staff have gone on sick leave as the number of patients grows.
The British Medical Association believes that by Christmas, the health care system will be short of 32,000 to 130,000 health workers, The Guardian reported.
Earlier, France also tightened the rules of entry from the UK. From 18 December, entry from the United Kingdom, as well as travel from France to the United Kingdom, is only possible for compelling reasons, and tourism or business trips are not included.
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