Some countries are increasing restrictions to deal with this wave of the pandemic, such as Austria, which has made vaccines and immunity passports mandatory.But some countries are axing almost all Covid rules despite dealing with a surge in case numbers, which have reached record levels in some countries.In Australia, governments are rolling back Covid-19 restrictions in the face of the highly contagious variant. What are the remaining rules in Australia?NSW: Masks indoors, QR check-in, a ban on singing and dancing indoors, and one-person per two square metre density limit in hospitality venues is enforced until February 28. Victoria: Face masks indoors, a ban on entry to the unvaccinated in hospitality, entertainment and tourism venues, and a density limit of one person per two square metre remains in indoor venues.Indoor dance floors are closed except for wedding venues. Outdoor dance floors remain open.Queensland: Unvaccinated people are still barred from hospitality, entertainment and sporting venues and masks are compulsory indoors.South Australia: Masks are required for high risk settings, health care services, transport services, indoor fitness, and shared public spaces. One person per two metre desnity is required for indoor seated hospitality activities, and one-two for outdoor seated hospitality activities. A Covid Management Plan is required for events of more than 1,000 people. The gathering at home cap is 10. Masks are required for shared indoor public places (except bridal parties during ceremonies)Restrictions on dancing and singing.Western Australia: Masks are required indoors, at workplaces, aged car or disability facilities, indoors and outdoors at hospitals.Proof of jab status is required at all hospitality venues, including restaurants, pubs, cafes, nightclubs and specified entertainment venues.So how do we compare with the rest of the world?AsiaMany Asian countries are enforcing strict coronavirus measures to cope with the rising numbers of Omicron cases. As China pursues a ‘zero-Covid’ policy, other Asian nations are enforcing strict laws.Japan recently passed 60,000 new cases a day for the first time and continues to see a sharp spike in new infections. On February 1 Japan recorded more than 81,500 new cases in a day and closed its border to international arrivals until at least the end of February 2022. State-of-emergency measures are in force in 37 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, including Hokkaido, Kyoto, Osaka, Okinawa and Hiroshima, until at least February 20.The southwestern regions of Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima recently announced earlier closing hours for restaurants, a ban on serving alcohol and restrictions on large-scale events.Mask-wearing remains mandatory in most public places, including on public transport.Sports and entertainment venues observe a 50 per cent capacity limit and certain parts of the country still mandate social distancing, although QR codes and checking of vaccination proof are not enforced, however some restaurants and venues still use temperature checks.In Hong Kong, the Year of the Tiger won’t be a roar with strict social-distancing rules in place in response to a surge in Covid-19 infections.With 387 cases recorded over the first three days of Lunar New Year, dozens of venues have been hit with compulsory testing orders.A ban on dine-in services after 6pm is in force at a time when feasting was the norm.Singapore retains many of its restrictions as it recorded a five-day average of over 5,000 cases a day due to Omicron.Singapore’s Ministry of Health is still predicting a peak of up to 10,000-15,000 new cases a day in February.Australians will be able to travel to Bali after Indonesia announced it will remove its border restrictions to all visitors after initially only allowing travellers from New Zealand, China and Japan from October last year. Vaccinated travellers will still have to quarantine for five days, and those who are unvaccinated will be required to do seven days of quarantine. AustriaAustrians over the age of 18 must be vaccinated against Covid-19 or face the possibility of a heavy fine, an unprecedented measure in the European Union.The new measure, adopted on January 20 by Parliament, came into force on Saturday, local time, the culmination of a process that began in November in the face of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.The government decided to pursue its new, tougher approach despite criticism within the country.Non-vaccinated people are currently excluded from restaurants, sports and cultural venues.But from now on they will also be subject to fines, which Melanie said was “unhealthy”.The law applies to all adult residents with the exception of pregnant women, those who have contracted the virus within the past 180 days and those with medical exemptions.DenmarkIn contrast, Denmark became the first European country to discard nearly all of its Covid-19 restrictions despite case numbers peaking due to Omicron and its sub-variant, BA.2.Face masks are no longer required in shops, restaurants, and on public transport.Nightclubs have reopened, late-night alcohol sales permitted and limits on the number of people allowed at indoor gatherings and social distancing measures have also ended.Denmark only imposes restrictions on unvaccinated travellers and the wearing of face marks in hospitals and aged care homes.Danish leaders credit the country’s world-leading vaccination rate for the low level of series illness. More than 81 per cent of Denmark is fully vaccinated and 61 per cent is boosted.EnglandEngland is holding onto some rules, including masks on public transport in London, but has axed many other restrictions, including the Covid Pass at venues, work-from-home recommendations and limits on visitor numbers in hospitals and aged care. ‘Plan B’ measures were scrapped in late January and the restrictions remaining include the need for people who develop Covid symptoms or test positive to self-isolate for 10 days, or five full days following two negative DIY lateral flow test results ( compared to seven days in Australia.)Europe Generally speaking, the bloc is accelerating its rollback of coronavirus restrictions as efforts to control the Omicron variant have been largely futile and just sowed civil unrest and divisions in many nations.Politicians across the region are deeming many public-health measures increasingly unnecessary with countries such as Italy, Switzerland and Finland set to follow Denmark, England, Ireland and France in easing the bulk of restrictions on public life. Norway also relaxed most rules.Portugal has just announced an easing of its travel restrictions for holders of European Covid-19 certificates by scrapping a requirement to test negative before entering the country.Travellers with an EU digital health pass or other recognised vaccine passes will be exempt from having to prove a recent negative test result from Monday.“We should discuss whether it’s time for us to take a different viewpoint and start unwinding restrictions even with a high number of infections,” Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told reporters before talks in Helsinki. “I hope that we can be rid of restrictions during February.”
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