Cautiously and gradually: Europe weakens quarantine

The Guardian talks about how quarantine measures are being eased in European countries and travel restrictions are being lifted.

Irina Ziganshina

One after another, the countries of Europe begin to weaken isolation measures and border restrictions, preparing to receive tourists - including from abroad.

Austria

Restaurants and bars are already open, and hotels will open on May 29. Masks are required in public transport and in stores. Major events are prohibited until early June. From June 15, trips with neighboring countries will be allowed, in which a comparable decrease in infections is observed: Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Upon entry, a medical certificate is required, which should indicate that the traveler does not have a coronavirus. Those who do not have such a certificate will have to isolate themselves for 14 days. Testing is available at Vienna Airport, it costs 190 euros.

Belgium

Most likely, from June 15, tourists from abroad will be allowed to enter Belgium. Now shops and museums are open. On June 8, cafes, restaurants and some tourist attractions will open, and small open-air events will be allowed (large ones are prohibited until the end of August). Public transport works, wearing masks is mandatory.

Bulgaria

Authorities promise to publish the entry rules for foreign citizens next Wednesday. Now in Bulgaria some hotels are open, as well as markets, restaurants and bars with tables in the open air. Since yesterday, shopping malls are working. Masks in shops and public transport are required. Individual outdoor sports are allowed, access to national parks is open. In addition, the country is negotiating with its neighbors - Greece, Northern Macedonia, Serbia and Romania on the mutual opening of borders.

Hungary

The first to open borders with Austria, it will happen, most likely, on June 15. Nowadays, take-away restaurants and parks are open in Budapest. In other cities, owners, subject to social distance, are allowed to open shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and hotels. Masks are required in stores and in public transport and taxis throughout the country.

Germany

From June 15, the borders should be reopened, first only with Switzerland, France and Austria. Shops and restaurants are open, hotels are due to open May 25, and major events like festivals will be allowed no earlier than August. Each of the 16 German lands has its own exact schedule and details of quarantine exit.

Greece

Borders for foreign tourists will open no earlier than July 1. In the meantime, during May and June, shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, hotels, amusement parks, playgrounds and sports facilities will gradually open. There is public transport and a taxi (a maximum of two passengers is allowed). Masks are required in stores and on public transport. Major festivals and sporting events are unlikely to take place this summer.

Denmark

The Danish government said it will decide on border controls by June 1. Now the country has opened shops, restaurants and bars, parks and some hotels, public transport works. Sports facilities, theaters and cinemas should reopen after June 8, then, apparently, events involving 10 or more people will be allowed.

Iceland

The government expects to begin easing restrictions on international entry no later than June 15. Upon entry, you will need to obtain a medical certificate or undertake a 14-day self-isolation. Arrivals will also need to download an internal tracking application. Social distance of two meters is mandatory in all public places, including hotels, restaurants and shops.

Spain

Life in the country is gradually resuming, but quarantine removal measures vary by region. Hotels were allowed to open from May 11, but many owners prefer not to do so, while the borders are for domestic and international tourism at the castle. Some of the restaurants and bars operate in less-affected regions, of course, in the open air, but most of them will not be fully operational until June. Many museums do not work. The Canary Islands, which will open for foreign tourists in July, will be the first destination in the world where digital medical certificates will be tested: the action will be held in partnership with WHO.

Italy

Parks are open, in restaurants you can buy takeaway food, bars, restaurants, and hairdressers work. From today, churches and beaches have opened, and from tomorrow museums will open in Rome - with the obligatory measurement of the temperature at the entrance and movement strictly along the arrows. Hotels may reopen in June - if the number of bookings is large enough. The authorities of Sicily announced their intention to subsidize travel for tourists, and this applies to Italians and guests from abroad.

Cyprus

On May 21, parks, open air playgrounds, squares and marinas, as well as archaeological and historical monuments will open. June 1 - organized beaches and museums. Airports and seaports will begin to gradually resume their work between June 9 and July 13. At the same time, hotels, open-air cinemas, theaters and shopping centers will open. Details on the entry of tourists from abroad have not yet been made public.

Netherlands

Borders are open for tourists from Schengen countries. Shops and some hotels are open. Masks in public transport are required. From June 1, restaurants and bars with tables on the street, as well as theaters, music centers, museums and cinemas, access to which is allowed subject to the observance of social distance, should open. Large events such as concerts and festivals with more than 100 participants can be resolved after September 1st.

Norway

Some hotels, shops and restaurants are open. Organized events are allowed with up to 50 people, so some parks, music centers, galleries and other cultural institutions are working, while others are likely to be available again from June 15.

Poland

Borders for tourists from abroad are likely to open on June 13. The country has hotels (without catering), museums and galleries, shops. Travel to national parks and beaches is permitted. Bicycle rental and public transport are available in limited mode. Face masks in public places are required.

Portugal

The date for the resumption of international tourism has not yet been announced, but the Tourism Board said that "return is not far off." Public transport throughout the country works, albeit with reduced bandwidth. Since yesterday, restaurants and bars have been opened in many regions, subject to limited capacity. Many Algarve hotels are open, and local beaches are due to open in June.

Romania

Several days as hotels opened, some shops, museums and restaurants. Face masks are required in closed public places and on public transport.

Slovakia

Part of the shops, open markets, open sports grounds for non-contact sports, outdoor tourist attractions, open areas of bars and restaurants, museums, galleries and hotels are open. There is a taxi and some types of public transport. Face masks in public places are required.

Slovenia

There are shops, galleries, some small hotels, as well as bars and restaurants with tables on the street. There are taxis and some types of public transport, face masks are mandatory. Tourist attractions are gradually opening up, but there is no talk of resuming major events. Mountain climbing is not allowed; mountain huts remain closed.

Turkey

Until tomorrow, there is a curfew with different rules depending on the person’s age, and supermarket hours are limited. Face masks in public places are required. Quarantine measures may vary from province to province and vary from time to time.

Finland

Shops are open, and restaurants, bars and cultural institutions should open from June 1, subject to social distance. Events for more than 50 people will be allowed from June 1, and meetings for more than 50 people - from July 31. Many hotels remain closed. Masks are required in public transport.

France

Since June 15, the borders should be re-opened, at the first stage - with Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Gradually, public transport begins to ply, masks in it are mandatory. Some shops have already opened, and restaurants and bars will open no earlier than June 2. Beaches and some parks will remain closed until at least June 1, as well as major museums. A medical certificate stating that the traveler does not have a coronavirus will be required upon entry at least until July (the alternative is 14-day self-isolation).

Croatia

Now access to the country is open to foreign citizens with real estate, the date of opening borders for other tourists has not yet been announced. There are parks, shops, museums, hotels, restaurants and bars in the open air, public transport runs.

Czech Republic

Shops, open-air restaurants, pubs, museums and other cultural institutions operate, events with a capacity of up to 100 people are allowed. On May 25, hotels, campsites and other accommodation will open, as well as a taxi. Then, as expected, the rules for wearing masks in public transport and in stores can be relaxed.

Switzerland

Hotels, shops, markets and restaurants are open. In situations where it is not possible to maintain distance, the government recommends using a face mask. Outdoor sports are allowed for up to five people. Theaters, museums, cinemas, swimming pools, ski resorts, spas should begin work on June 8. Major events involving more than a thousand people may resume from August 31.

Sweden

Since Sweden, unlike other countries, was not in a lockdown situation throughout the pandemic, hotels, shops, bars, restaurants and some museums are open. Meetings of more than 50 people are still banned.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Travel is permitted only within the “tourist bubble” that these three Baltic states have organized among themselves.

In the photo: Venice, a gondola ride according to the new rules.