About: coronavirus restrictions
Clashes erupt at Brussels protest against COVID rules
Belgian police fired water cannon and used tear gas Sunday (4 December) to disperse protesters opposed to compulsory health measures against the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 40,000 march in Vienna against coronavirus lockdown
More than 40,000 people marched through Vienna on Saturday (4 December) to protest against a lockdown and plans to make vaccinations compulsory to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
Germany cracks down on unjabbed as US eyes winter battle
Germany on Thursday (2 December) unveiled strict curbs on public life for the unvaccinated as alarm fanned worldwide over the Omicron variant and the US readied to ramp up its winter battle against Covid-19.
‘Jabbed, cured or dead’, Germany warns as Europe battles COVID surge
Germans faced the stark warning Monday (22 November) that they would be either "vaccinated, cured or dead" from Covid by the end of winter, while Austria returned to a partial lockdown as Europe battles a fourth wave of the pandemic.
Latvia toughens rules for unvaccinated people
Employers in Latvia are allowed to dismiss employees who refuse to get vaccinated against Covid-19 from Monday (15 November), under new rules aimed at taming the pandemic in the EU member state.
Dutch consider new partial lockdown as coronavirus cases hit record
The Dutch government on Thursday (11 November) was considering whether to impose Western Europe's first partial lockdown since the summer, as new coronavirus cases jumped to the highest level since the start of the pandemic.
Latvia allows businesses to fire the unvaccinated
The Latvian parliament on Thursday (4 November) allowed businesses to fire workers who refuse to either get a COVID-19 vaccine or transfer to remote work, as the country battles one of the worst COVID-19 waves in European Union.
‘Grave concern’ over COVID in Europe as German cases soar
The World Health Organization expressed "grave concern" Thursday (4 November) over the rising pace of coronavirus infections in Europe, as Germany registered its biggest daily increase since the start of the pandemic.
Spain court orders end to Barcelona virus curfew
A Spanish court on Thursday lifted a coronavirus curfew imposed on most of Catalonia, including the capital Barcelona, leaving it in place in just a fraction of the northeastern region.
Tourists caught short as Italy ushers in Covid ‘green pass’
"Do you have your green pass?" Visitors across Italy were being asked the question on Friday as new coronavirus rules for museums and indoor dining came into force -- with those answering 'no' left frustrated.
US working on plan to reopen to fully-vaccinated foreigners
The United States, which closed its borders to much of the world as the pandemic took hold, plans eventually to begin allowing fully vaccinated foreigners back in, a White House official said Wednesday (4 August).
England to drop quarantine rule for fully jabbed arrivals from France
The UK government said late Wednesday (4 August) it will ease English entry rules requiring arrivals from France to quarantine even if they are fully vaccinated, following its latest review of travel curbs.
Protesters opposed to COVID measures clash with police in Paris
French anti-riot police fired teargas on Saturday (24 July) as clashes erupted during protests in central Paris against COVID-19 restrictions and a vaccination campaign, television reported.
Delta variant spread upsets EU plans for return to relative normality
Moscow and Indonesia recorded their worst daily coronavirus death toll due to the highly contagious coronavirus Delta variant, while various EU countries envisaged new restrictions, likely to upset their plans for a return to relative normality this summer.
EU envoy urges US to ease travel restrictions
The European Union's top diplomat in Washington said the United States should safely ease COVID-19 travel restrictions on Europeans, calling it a mistake to prevent European business executives from overseeing their US investments.
COVID eases but US won’t reciprocate EU in opening borders
As the COVID pandemic recedes dramatically in the West, Europe is opening its doors to Americans – but the reverse is not holding true, with the United States not budging on restrictions imposed 15 months ago.
Belgium looks towards ‘cautious’ relaxations, with hospitality sector to open on 8 May
Belgium's Consultation Committee on Wednesday (14 April) decided to 'cautiously' loosen certain COVID-19 restrictions, including lifting a travel ban, reopening outdoor terraces for the hospitality sector and extending social bubbles.
Germany to tighten COVID controls at French border
Germany on Sunday (28 February) declared France's Covid-battered Moselle region a high-risk area for virus variants, prompting tougher entry rules for visitors at the border.
Tighter virus controls at France-Germany border
France and Germany agreed Thursday (25 February) to require coronavirus tests for workers commuting across their shared border, aiming to avoid a full closure of the frontier while controlling the outbreak's spread.
UK arrivals face ten day hotel quarantine as Johnson imposes new restrictions
Residents arriving in England from 22 ‘red list’ hotspot countries with new variants of COVID-19 will have to quarantine in hotels at their own expense, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Wednesday (27 January).
Farmers angered by pandemic rules to play key role in Romanian election
Romanians vote in a parliamentary election on Sunday (6 December) with rural voters’ anger over coronavirus restrictions set to complicate efforts by its centrist prime minister to restore judicial independence and the country’s reputation among investors.
Caught in gay ‘sex party’ in Brussels, Fidesz MEP resigns
Hungarian MEP József Szájer apologised on Tuesday (1 December) following reports that he was caught trying to flee what was described as a 25-man gay orgy last Friday that was shut down by Brussels police for breaching COVID restrictions on large gatherings.
‘We are submerged’: France and Germany thrust into second COVID-19 lockdown
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered their countries back into lockdown on Wednesday (28 October), as a massive second wave of coronavirus infections threatened to overwhelm Europe before the winter.