France and Britain to loosen coronavirus lockdowns ahead of Christmas

The decision to reopen shops, resume indoor entertainment and permit limited holiday gatherings appeared to rub up against a scientific consensus that has underscored the risks of indoor socializing and urged against lifting restrictions too rapidly. But many European leaders seem reluctant to keep their economies shuttered or stand in the way of family members seeing each other after a year marked by long periods of strict confinement measures and social isolation.

French President Emmanuel Macron began a national address on Tuesday by stating what would remain the same in the coming weeks: "We will have to continue to stay at home, to telecommute when possible, to give up private meetings, family gatherings and all nonessential travel."

But he outlined a three-step deconfinement plan could see nonessential shops reopen starting Saturday and cinemas and theaters welcome back audiences in mid-December. Restaurants would need to remain closed into January, he said, and an evening curfew would remain in place. But exceptions would be granted for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve so that people could "share these moments together among family," Macron said.

Vaccination, he added, would begin in late December or early January, and would not be mandatory.

In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced plans for the national lockdown to end on Dec. 2, to be replaced by a region-by-region tiered system of restrictions.

Most of the country would be in the highest two tiers, requiring the closure of restaurants and pubs except for takeaway. But in many places, shops, gym and salons would be allowed to reopen, and indoor and outdoor spectator sports could resume.

On Tuesday, the four nations of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - also agreed to an easing of restrictions that would allow loved ones to meet during the Christmas period. From Dec. 23 to Dec. 27, up to three households can form a "Christmas bubble" and mix indoors. During the five day period, Brits will be able to travel across the country and move between tiers.

Cabinet Minister Michael Gove told Sky News on Tuesday that families will have "something closer to a normal Christmas."

In Spain, the government is reportedly considering limiting family and other social gatherings over the holidays to just six people, in addition to imposing a 1 a.m. curfew on both Dec. 24 and Jan. 31.

According to El Pais, the government's draft document, entitled "Proposals for Covid-19 public health measures for the celebration of Christmas fiestas," recommends socializing only with other members of the same household but limiting all outside contacts to six people.

Germany could soon follow suit.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to meet with leaders of the country's 16 federal states on Wednesday to determine whether to extend a month long November lockdown, which shuttered bars and eat-in dining but kept schools and stores open.

Draft proposals extend measures but include the possibility of a week-long ease in contact restrictions over the Christmas week, allowing gatherings of up to 10 people and an unlimited number of children under 14.

But behind the easing of restrictions are continued concerns over case numbers, hospitalizations and death tolls, which suggest Europe is barely past the peak of the second wave.

"We have slowed down the circulation of the virus, but it remains very present in France as in the entire northern hemisphere," Macron said in his speech. "We must continue our efforts."

In France, at least, the numbers have showed some sign of improvement after nearly a month of lockdown. On Tuesday, the Health Ministry recorded 9,155 new cases of covid-19 in the previous 24 hours, but still a relatively high death toll of 458 in the same period, in keeping with totals recorded in previous weeks.

In comparison with the spring, France's current ICU occupancy is similar to the level when it announced a loosening of restrictions after the first wave. As of Monday, there were 4,438 covid-19 cases in its ICUs. On April 28, the day Macron announced plans to loosen measures, there were 4,307 in ICU beds.

But its hospitals are more saturated now than they were the first time around: numbers have been declining for only a week, compared to two weeks of declines before the springtime loosening, and there are 31,449 hospitalizations now, 14 percent higher than in the spring.

In Britain, Tuesday's announcement permitting loosened restrictions for the Christmas holidays came shortly after the government said the latest daily death toll was 608, the highest total recorded since May.

And unlike in May, when Johnson announced the first easing of restrictions after four weeks of emptying hospitals, numbers are still rising. There were 13,767 covid patients in English hospitals on Monday, the most since April 22 and double what they were a month ago. ICU occupancy is also still rising. The only small comfort is that the speed at which hospitals are filling may have started slowing over the last week.

The British government urged people to continue to exercise caution, especially with those who are vulnerable. 'Tis the season to be jolly, but it's also the season to be jolly careful, especially with elderly relatives," Johnson said in a press briefing on Monday.

Macron warned citizens that if the government's public health guidelines were not followed, the virus could very well return. He cautioned against overconfidence despite the brief respite of the holiday season.

"There are always a lot of uncertainties, and we have to keep a lot of humility in this matter, this virus has taught us that," he said.