Unlike some countries reacting to new record rates of infections, Germany is already under a number of tight restrictions, including a nationwide rule that allows only the vaccinated or those who have recovered from the coronavirus into restaurants, bars and nonessential shops. On Saturday, Germany added Britain to its list of countries that face travel restrictions, a grouping that includes South Africa and other nations in southern Africa where the Omicron variant is widespread. Although daily infections have slowly decreased since early December, the German authorities are expecting the Omicron variant to drive a new wave of infections. Karl Lauterbach, the country’s new health minister, told reporters on Friday that he a surge was probably inevitable. But while Europe may be facing an acute Omicron surge, it is clearly not limited to one region.

Source: The Times December 19, 2021 22:52 UTC