Germany has become the latest country to reintroduce tight Covid-19 measures.
Olaf Scholz announced New Year’s Eve gatherings will be limited to just 10 vaccinated people.
It comes as the World Health Organisation warns ‘we can see another storm coming’ and that ‘Omicron will dominate in more countries of the region, pushing already stretched health systems further to the brink’.
The moves were agreed with the country’s 16 federal leaders as the new chancellor warned ‘it is only a matter of weeks before Omicron is here’.
German leaders also confirmed clubs and discos must close and mass spectator events, including soccer matches, can only go ahead without spectators.
Angela Merkel’s successor said: ‘We cannot and must not close our eyes to the next wave…[Covid-19]won’t take a Christmas break.’
It means Germany has become the latest country to target New Year restriction in an effort to allow Christmas to continue.
Nicola Sturgeon announced a similar move in Scotland today, opting against limiting Christmas gatherings but cancelling large Hogmanay events.
Wales’ first minister Mark Drakeford has also confirmed nightclubs will not be allowed to reopen for Christmas.
Portugal has also announced new restrictions, including shutting hospitality down, with an exemption for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
But a new law has been introduced to ban drinking alcohol outdoors and limit outside gatherings to 10 people in a bid to stop crowds forming.
Sweden, Denmark and the Netherland are among other European countries to reimpose tight controls.
Boris Johnson tonight confirmed there will be no further restrictions introduced ahead of Christmas but did not rule out new measures later in the month.
In a recorded video message, he said: ‘So what I can say tonight is that naturally we can’t rule out any further measures after Christmas – and we’re going to keep a constant eye on the data, and we’ll do whatever it takes to protect public health.
‘But in view of the continuing uncertainty about several things – the severity of Omicron, uncertainty about the hospitalisation rate or the impact of the vaccine rollout or the boosters, we don’t think today that there is enough evidence to justify any tougher measures before Christmas.
‘We continue to monitor Omicron very closely and if the situation deteriorates we will be ready to take action if needed.’
He warned the country that the government was ‘holding in reserve’ the right to roll out new measures despite not pressing ahead with changes now.
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