As a leader, the United Kingdom lifted most of its health restrictions on January 27. Then Denmark and Spain quickly joined the movement. Since then, the evolution of the epidemic not making it possible to justify draconian measures, other countries have turned to the path of ” return to normal life »: Switzerland, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Germany… Only France still and always “resists”… freedom.
See also: Denmark will give up vaccination completely
Switzerland at the right time
Since this morning, our Swiss neighbors have had the opportunity to visit almost all types of establishments without masks or passes. The only measures that are maintained are the wearing of masks in transport and health establishments, as well as the isolation of the sick. Common sense measures? The government allows itself this freedom thanks to ” high population immunity “, and because a ” overload of the health system is unlikely, despite the still significant circulation of the virus “. Nowadays, 68 % of the Swiss population is “fully vaccinated”. A figure that rises to 77% in France. A good reason to be jealous of them:
I’m in Fribourg, no more passes, no more masks. In Switzerland, there is a scent of freedom. The vaccinated have all caught Omicron, the words fuse “This vaccine is useless”
— Carėne Tardy (@Carene1984) February 17, 2022
Unfortunate (or happy?) chance of the calendar, the Swiss head of state Ignazio Cassis tested positive that same day. His government, however, communicated that “ Mr. Cassis has no symptoms and is in good health “. He will therefore isolate himself as a safety measure, but does not risk much. Finally, perhaps his case will be proof that the lifting of health measures is a solution proportionate to the seriousness of the disease and the evolution of the epidemic.
Netherlands, Finland and Sweden
While they imposed some of the strictest restrictions at the end of 2021, the Netherlands also announced the gradual end of health measures. From February 25, the sanitary pass will be lifted there and restaurants will be able to return to their normal closing hours. The period of isolation, in the event of contamination, will be reduced to only five days.
In Finland, Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced the lifting of all restrictions on restaurants and bars for March 1.
Sweden, which was already not showing great firmness, also announced the end of almost all of its restrictions since February 9.
Germany before France
On the German side, according to a government plan unveiled on Monday February 14, a gradual lifting of the measures is planned until spring. By March 20, access to the main places of social life should be facilitated there, the restrictions enlarged, the controls relaxed. In addition, restaurants, hotels and clubs should be able to reopen for people who have been vaccinated, cured or tested.
Read also: Austria and Germany in turmoil: dissidents sound the alarm
Although Germans are still quite divided on the issue, a recent poll by the institute BUT shows that 49% of them are in favor of lifting the measures, when 44% are opposed.
Meanwhile, in France, although we can eat popcorn again in cinemas and drink a beer standing up in bars, the lifting of measures is among the slowest in the world. For only a few days, politicians have been talking about the end of the vaccination pass. Of all the countries mentioned in this article, the French are the most vaccinated.
Read also: End of the vaccination pass? Mid-March for Attal, end of March for Delfraissy, the French for an “early” lifting
Note also that, according to an Ifop poll for the JDD71% of French people are in favor of raising sesame.
The epidemiological data (in particular the vaccination rate) of each country mentioned in the article can be found on this page from OurWorldInData.