Europe’s Summer in Peril as France Warns on Spain, Portugal

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/europe-s-summer-in-peril-as-france-warns-on-spain-portugal-1.1626637


10h ago
Europe’s Summer in Peril as France Warns on Spain, Portugal
Iain Rogers, Bloomberg News

(Bloomberg) -- France is warning its citizens against vacationing in Spain and Portugal in the latest sign that the rapid spread of the delta variant of Covid-19 could wreck Europe’s summer.

With the migration of tens of thousands of holidaymakers already underway on the continent, European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune issued a “message of caution” and advised those who haven’t yet booked to go elsewhere or vacation domestically.

The comments come as European Union countries introduce vaccination certificates intended to make travel easier. But the delta strain and the pickup in virus infections are hindering the reopening, with some governments delaying plans to ease restrictions, or even reintroducing them in some hotspots. And as countries look to move past the pandemic, new figures spell out the ongoing human cost, with the global death toll passing 4 million.

Spain and Portugal have the highest 14-day case notification rate in Europe after Cyprus, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Both countries rely heavily on tourism and Beaune’s warning could put fledgling recoveries at risk.

“The situation is particularly worrying, especially in Portugal,” Beaune said on France 2 TV. The government will discuss the situation Monday and could take action including border checks and local restrictions to try to stem the spread of the virus...

 

[kiwibird]

https://www.ft.com/content/06334a7b-30cc-40bf-942b-e3bcd2efb305

Delta variant drives Spain’s Covid-19 rate to highest in mainland Europe

Infection rate almost tripled in past week, fuelled by sharp rise among under-30s

 

[kiwibird]

https://www.euronews.com/2021/07/08...-unvaccinated-youth-bear-brunt-of-covid-cases

".....“Since the beginning of May we had the first release of the state of emergency, then the end of curfews, then the opening of nightlife, then the end of obligatory mask wearing,” he says.

This reopening has contributed to “a false sense of security and social interaction that is not protected,” he tells Euronews, due to the fact vaccines have until now been largely unavailable for younger people."

 

[kiwibird]

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/ne...u-countries-tighten-entry-restrictions-again/

Germany, Slovakia and Lithuania have all instigated restrictions for travellers entering the country.

Belgium also plans to announce stringent measures for arrivals from Portugal, but no official announcement has been made yet. If such restrictions get approved by the Belgian authorities, all arrivals from Portugal must undergo Coronavirus testing, and those who haven’t been vaccinated yet might be required to follow a ten-day quarantine requirement.