Germany extended its exclusion by three weeks on Wednesday night while France and Italy are considering stricter Covid-19 restrictions in light of new variants.
The German government has also drawn up a five-step plan to gradually lift the restrictions despite rising infections and a slow vaccination campaign.
“There are many examples in Europe of a dramatic third wave, and this danger, we must not deceive ourselves, is also a danger to us,” Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
Under the plan, most closure measures will apply until at least the end of the month, but some non-essential stores may open from next week.
Further relaxation, including the reopening of shops, museums and dining out, is only possible in areas where infections are relatively low. The plan also provides for an increase in rapid testing, which will be mandatory to enter certain places such as outdoor eateries or cinemas, depending on local infection rates.
Me. Merkel’s government and state governors have been under increasing pressure to lift restrictions, but health officials continue to warn of a looming surge in infections. Most shops have been closed since December, restaurants and bars since November, and hotels can only accommodate business travelers.
The plan includes an “emergency brake” mechanism to return to current lock-in rules if infection rates rise again.
On Thursday, the German public health agency reported nearly 12,000 new cases, similar to a week earlier. The seven-day event has recently stood at just over 60 per 100,000 people, from a peak of about 200 just before Christmas.
The new daily infections in Italy rose to 20,884 on Wednesday, according to the country’s civil protection agency the highest number in the past two months. Doctors blame the spread in new cases on the spread of more virulent virus strains. Hospitalizations of Covid-19 patients, also in intensive care units, are also increasing.
The deteriorating outlook is likely to prompt the Italian government to set up more regions, such as a ban on the movement through villages and the closure of pubs and restaurants, which are now only open part of the day.
In France, Prime Minister Jean Castex is due to hold a news conference later on Thursday on whether the government will apply new restrictions.
With the explosion of vaccines, AstraZeneca’s top manager in France, Olivier Nataf, said the number of doses of AstraZeneca administered in the country was rising rapidly since primary care physicians were allowed to give it a chance.