Europe mulls Christmas curbs

OMICRON THREAT ACROSS GLOBE
UK reports 12 deaths; Thailand considering reinstating mandatory quarantine for foreign visitors

Britain refused to rule out curbs on gatherings yesterday, a day after the Netherlands imposed a lockdown prompted by the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus and as other European nations considered putting a squeeze on Christmas.

Omicron infections are multiplying rapidly across Europe, the United States and other parts of the world, doubling every two or three days in London and elsewhere and taking a heavy toll on financial markets which fear the impact on the global economic recovery.

The variant was first detected last month in southern Africa and Hong Kong and so far been reported in at least 89 countries. The severity of illness it causes remains unclear.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced a shutdown on Saturday, ordering the closure of all but essential stores, as well as restaurants, hairdressers, gyms, museums and other public places from Sunday until at least January 14.

Twelve people in Britain have died with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said yesterday, refusing to rule out a tightening of social restrictions before Christmas.

"I just can't make hard and fast guarantees," he told Times Radio. "In assessing the situation we rely very heavily on the real data coming through and it will take a little bit more time to assess this critical issue of the severity of Omicron."

The German government's scientific advisory panel said in a statement on Sunday it was necessary to further limit contact, with data so far showing that boosters alone would not be enough to contain the spread of the virus.

The state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wuest, did not rule out contact restrictions on people who have been fully vaccinated or had a booster shot, reports Reuters.

"We should be careful about ruling anything out," he told broadcaster ARD yesterday.

Thailand is considering reinstating mandatory quarantine for foreign visitors as the health ministry reported the country's first case of local transmission of the coronavirus variant.