Covid-19 Curbs Eased Further in Europe as New Version of Omicron Spreads in Places

WSJ

Several European countries have lifted or relaxed Covid-19 restrictions, citing the milder symptoms being caused by the Omicron variant in vaccinated people—even as daily infections continued to surge in some countries and a new version of Omicron was identified as spreading in places.

In the U.S., the number of recorded cases and the number of patients with Covid-19 in hospitals slipped further, while the number of recorded Covid-19 deaths rose to its highest since early last year. The daily average of Covid-19 deaths recorded over the seven days to Wednesday was 2,301, the highest figure since February.

Denmark said it would lift most mandatory restrictions on Feb. 1. Premier Mette Frederiksen said Wednesday that measures ranging from mask mandates, to mandatory vaccinations for access to some public spaces and shortened opening times for some businesses would all end, with some traveling restrictions remaining in place until the end of February.

The decision comes as a subvariant of Omicron—known as BA.2—appeared to be gaining ground in Denmark. The version is under observation in several countries, including the U.K. and India, and has been identified in about 40 countries world-wide, including the U.S. There are signs that BA.2 may be gaining ground in Denmark over the original Omicron strain, known as BA.1, but there is no evidence that it causes more serious disease, scientists say.

Austria said Wednesday it would end its lockdown for unvaccinated residents on Monday. Some restrictions, including mask mandates, will remain and while unvaccinated people will be allowed to leave their homes, they will be barred from most of public life. Austria is the first European country to mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for everyone older than 18.

In the Netherlands, which had one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns in the Omicron wave, cafes and restaurants have been allowed to reopen in the evening since Wednesday. The Swedish government said this week current restrictions would continue for now but could be lifted on Feb. 9, and France has announced limited relaxations of its strict anti-Covid-19 measures.

In England, almost all remaining Covid-19 restrictions were lifted on Thursday. Face coverings will no longer be required for indoor venues, but shops and transport companies may continue to require them. A legal requirement for people with Covid-19 to self isolate for at least five days remains in place.

This gradual normalization, whose extent still varies greatly from country to country, is taking place even though Covid-19 infections show little sign of decelerating on the continent.