COVID-19 Information and Global Service Updates
Youcall-it.com Statement 23rd October 2020
UPDATE AS OF 14.47 (GMT) Friday 23rd October
Widespread restrictions are now in place across Europe with the potential to impact service; Italy, France and Germany are expected to be particularly affected.
More areas in England have been entered into Tier Three restrictions, with Greater Manchester entering the tier last night and South Yorkshire added to the level from tonight. The urban areas of Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry and Slough will move into tier two restrictions on Saturday.
Wales is to begin a 17 day “fire break” lockdown from today; pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops will be required to close.
Flights between the Isle of Man and Guernsey are stopped after a cluster of seven coronavirus cases.
The Republic of Ireland has moved to enact more stringent restrictions, in order to stem the increase in the infection rate. Many non-essential shops and hairdressers will have to close. People are being asked to stay at home. Those who can work from home must do so. People will be able to meet up outdoors with one other household away from their home for the likes of exercise, within the 5km limit.
France will extend an overnight curfew to several more areas. The 21:00 to 06:00 curfew will come into force at midnight on Friday. People in the capital, as well as Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Saint-Etienne, Rouen, Toulouse, Grenoble, and Montpellier will have to stay at home from 21:00 to 06:00. Only essential trips will be permitted. Schools will remain open with travel between regions allowed during the day. Only six people will be allowed to gather inside private homes.
A second lockdown is in force in the Czech Republic which is facing a big surge in cases. Prime Minister Andrej Babis said the harsh restrictions were needed to avoid hospitals being overwhelmed.
Greece has declared a night curfew in Athens and other areas. It will come into force from Saturday and applies between 00:30 and 05:00.
Italy's Lazio region around Rome has joined two other Italian regions in declaring overnight curfews. Lombardy in the north started its curfew at 23:00 (21:00GMT) on Thursday, and Campania and Lazio will follow today.
The northern region of Navarre has started a partial lockdown for two weeks. Bars and restaurants have to close and movement of people in and out of the region will be restricted. Restrictions remain in place in Catalonia and Madrid.
In Germany, the district of Berchtesgadener Land at the Bavarian-Austrian border, will impose a temporary lockdown for two weeks. Schools, nurseries and restaurants will be closed, and people will have to stay at home unless they have a compelling reason to leave. In Berlin, restaurants and bars must close at 23:00.
In Belgium, new measures, in place from 19 October, include the closure of all bars and restaurants across the country for four weeks, a ban on selling alcohol after 20:00 and a curfew from midnight to 05:00. Restaurants can open for takeaways until 22:00. Households can invite up to four guests, always the same ones, changing every two weeks, and working from home is mandatory, where possible.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
For Coronavirus specific travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-corridors