More European countries have announced further easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
The Netherlands has confirmed it will drop quarantine measures from countries it deems ‘very high risk’ from February 25 – but pre-departure testing will remain in place for all arrivals.
The UK Foreign Office’s travel advice for the Netherlands states: “From February 25, the mandatory quarantine requirement for all travellers from the UK will be lifted, but pre-departure testing requirements will remain regardless of vaccination status.”
Ernst Kuipers, Dutch minister of health, told a press conference earlier this week that “the country will open”.
All public venues including cinemas, restaurants and bars will resume as normal at full capacity for the first time in almost two years.
Meanwhile, the Austrian government says it plans to end the country’s main Covid-19 restrictions from March 5 – apart from wearing masks in essential shops and on public transport.
The country, which removed the UK from its ‘virus variant’ list of countries in January, will allow night clubs to reopen while maximum capacity measures will be lifted for public events.
Proof of testing, recovery or vaccination for public aras like hotels and ski lifts could be lifted as early as this weekend.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer reportedly told a news conference: “On March 5 the bulk of the restrictions that so burden people will be lifted.”
And in fellow ski destination Switzerland, which removed pre-arrival testing for the fully vaccinated in January, the use of Covid-19 certificates for all indoor venues such as bars and restaurants ended today (February 17).
According to the Swiss Federal Council, masks will still be required on public transport and health-care facilities until the end of March.