Health

Germany, France, to ease lockdowns ahead of Christmas

Madrid Desk, Nov 24 (EFE).- Germany and France are expected to announce plans to ease lockdown measures that are currently in place ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday season, while travelers to England will soon be able to avoid a 14-day quarantine if they can present a negative coronavirus test upon arrival.

FRANCE

French President Emmanuel Macron will reveal his government’s plans to ease lockdown measures in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday night.

He is expected to outline a three-phased return from lockdown that will be stricter than the one in May, as well as provide updates on his government’s vaccination strategy in the wake of promising developments in early phases of clinical trials of proposed vaccines.

As part of the staggered easing of measures, shops will be allowed to reopen from this weekend, to give retailers and consumers a window for Christmas shopping.

Further restrictions on gatherings will be eased ahead of the holiday season, with a third phase slated for the start of next year.

The easing of measures is contingent on the development of the spread of the virus and the state of France’s healthcare systems.

But restaurant workers have little hope for any return to normalcy, with bars and restaurants likely to remain closed.

GERMANY

The prime ministers of Germany’s federal states have agreed on special rules for the Christmas and New Year period that would allow gatherings of up to 10 people from different households, according to reports in German media.

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