England, Italy brace for Christmas lockdowns as Europe battles virus surge
Shoppers in Oxford Street after the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivered a televised statement announcing more restrictions for the south east, in London, Britain, 19 December 2020. EPA-Yonhap
Millions of people in England and Italy will celebrate Christmas under tough new coronavirus restrictions announced Saturday, as Europe battles a winter surge including a more infectious new strain.
Europe has become the first region in the world to pass 500,000 deaths from Covid-19 since the pandemic broke out a year ago, killing more than 1.6 million worldwide and pitching the global economy into turmoil.
In England, where a lockdown-weary population had been looking forward to a temporary five-day relaxation of virus restrictions over the festive period, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson instead announced a new "stay at home" order for London and southeast England ― an area including around a third of England's population.
The move follows alarm at the speed at which the virus was spreading and a new strain that Johnson said was "up to 70 percent more transmissible".
Travelers sit in the London underground after the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivered a televised statement announcing more restrictions for the south east in London, Britain, 19 December 2020. EPA-Yonhap
"It is with a very heavy heart I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned," he told the nation in a televised briefing.
"Alas when the facts change, you have to change your approach," he said.
Residents in the affected areas will have to go into lockdown at least until December 30, Johnson said, tearing up earlier plans that would have allowed up to three households to mix.
Italy also announced a new regime of restrictions until January 6 that included limits on people leaving their homes more than once a day, closing non-essential shops, bars and restaurants and curbs on regional travel.
"It's right that they prohibit departures after 20 December if it means travelling in safety," Claudia Patrone, a 33-year-old lawyer, told AFP as she got off a train in Milan.
A shopper walks next to a shop advertising Christmas sales in the central area of Milan, Italy, 19 December 2020. EPA-Yonhap
"I took the test before leaving, I stayed locked in my house, I didn't see anyone. The measure is right if everyone respects the rules and guarantees safety."
Vaccination hope beckons
Europe ― the epicentre of the pandemic earlier this year ― is once again seeing growing cases with officials fearing an explosion in infections after the Christmas holidays as families gather.
A year after the pandemic first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the rapid rollout of vaccinations is now seen as the only effective way to end the crisis and the economically devastating lockdowns used to halt its spread.
People queue at a Disney store in Via del Corso Street as the government prepares further restrictions over the Christmas period in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Rome, Italy December 19, 2020. REUTERS-Yonhap
Europe is expected to start a massive vaccination campaign after Christmas following the United States and Britain, which have begun giving jabs with an approved Pfizer-BioNTech shot, one of several leading candidates.
Russia and China have also started giving out jabs with their own domestically produced vaccines.
Swiss regulators on Saturday give the green light to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine ― the 16th country to do so and the first in continental Europe ― with immunisation set to start within days.
"Those who are particularly vulnerable will have priority," Health Minister Alain Berset said in a video tweet, namely the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. (AFP)