As Covid infection rates rise steadily, new Europe lockdowns – partial and full – will affect travel. For a start, travelers must be aware of, and ready to respect, the new rules.
From Belgium to France, many countries are going back to various restrictions, after summer’s new-found freedom. This is also seeing the EU’s safe country list – of travelers welcome on the continent – shrink.
But there are still thousands who are headed for, or traveling around Europe.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest measures in 10 countries. Including those the hardest-hit by the second wave. Note, the Netherlands is also in partial lockdown with bars, restaurants and coffee shops only serving takeaways.
UPDATE: Portuguese authorities are implementing a “partial” lockdown in most of the country, with stay-at-home orders in place since November 4. While Greece is the latest to announce a return to lockdown.
HERE ARE THE NEW EUROPE LOCKDOWN RULES
BELGIUM
UPDATE November 1: As German hospitals take on Belgian patients, the country is heading for a total lockdown again, nationwide. With the national lockdown starting December 2, all non-essential shops will close for about six weeks until the middle of December. Public gatherings have a limit of a maximum four people.
With record-highs of 12,000-plus new cases a day, the government warns the country is facing a “tsunami” of infections.
What Are The Rules: Crisis point measures saw bars, cafes and restaurants close for a month from Monday October 19. Plus there’s a night-time curfew from midnight until 5 a.m., (and a ban on alcohol sales after 8 p.m.)
With people working from home as much as possible, social meet-ups are restricted to just one person outside of family members.
How Do New Restrictions Affect Travelers?
Read about the latest update on travel rules during the lockdown here.
Travel is still only possible for non-Europeans with a green light to travel in the EU. All travelers arriving by plane or sea must fill out a “passenger locator form” within 48 hours of arrival. If you plan to stay longer than 48 hours, it also applies to car travelers says the government. Based on your answers, high-risk travelers will receive a text message telling them to quarantine for 10 days. “This is compulsory if you come from a red zone.”
The new measures are increasingly strict, but “don’t call it a lockdown” says The Brussels Times. Many feel that is just around the corner (they were right). Some key health and government officials are certainly calling for one.
“Severe measures such as lockdowns,” will help the economy too, in the medium and long-term, tweeted virologist, Marc Van Ranst.
Strenge corona-maatregelen (zoals een lockdown) helpen de economie op de middellange en lange termijn. Virologen zijn dus ook de beste vrienden van de economie. De viroloog, uw vriend.https://t.co/uN28cDpl7s
— Marc Van Ranst (@vanranstmarc) October 24, 2020
CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech lockdown came into force on October 21 and will last at least until November 3. Together with Belgium, it’s one of the EU’s major new Covid epicentres.
What Are The Rules? Non-essential shops are closed, and “the free movement of persons throughout the Czech Republic is prohibited,” says the government.
What It Means For Travelers: Visits to the country for tourism purposes or to visit friends are, for now, out says the government.
ENGLAND
UPDATE November 1: England is bracing for a new month-long national lockdown starting November 5. Pubs, restaurants and non-essential businesses will close until December 2. There will be stay at home orders and no more inter-household mingling. Only essential overseas trips are possible.
The government’s new “three-tier system” means localized restrictions for different parts of England, depending on infection rates. For now, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and the Liverpool city region are on “very high” alert levels. That means the closure of pubs and bars not serving food, plus limits on gatherings.
London and Essex are among those on tier 2 “high” level alert reports the Telegraph. So there’s a ban on indoor gatherings among different households, and a limit of six people for outdoor and private garden get-togethers. “It also means no pubbing after 10 p.m.,” says one Australian friend. “I’m moving to the country next week, away from the high risk zone so it’s all good.”
What It Means For Travelers: The 14-day quarantine is still in place for high-risk arrivals, but not required if you are in transit.
FRANCE
With new records on Sunday, of over 50,000 new cases in a day, France is sweeping in tough new measures. Both at a national and local level. The government will hold emergency meetings Wednesday evening to discuss the next responses to the crisis reports BFM TV.
What Are The Rules? For now, expect mandatory masks and a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in much of France.
Since Friday, the curfew applies to 46 million of France’s 67 million population. 54 of 94 French departments are under curfew, including cities such as Nice, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg and Paris. So far at least, Bordeaux is one notable exception. The few reasons for breaking curfew include walking the dog, or traveling to/from work, a train station or airport.
Business Closures: The curfew applies to restaurants and cinemas nationwide until at least mid-November. Bars and cafes doors are shut completely, as of mid-October.
What It Means For Travelers Other than little night life, you must be prepared to fill out a form to show your reasons for travel during curfew hours. For example, to/from the airport. It’s available as a PDF, in English, on the government website.
Public transport services are set for cuts after 9 p.m. in Greater Paris as a result of the curfew.
GERMANY
A soft second lockdown stars on Monday in German meaning a partial shutdown on business. While Germany is doing much better than many neighbors in keeping the second wave at bay, the Covid stat’s are soaring.
What Are The Rules?
Bars, restaurants, cinemas, swimming pools and gyms will close until the end of November. There’s a limit of 10 people, and two households, on pubic gatherings.
Masks are still optional in some of Germany’s Länder (
But Germany’s 135 new cases/100,000 people in the past 14 days still compares favorably to 602 in France, and over 1300 in both Belgium and Czechia. That’s according to the the latest figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control.
What It Means For Travelers: If coming from the UK, Switzerland, Poland, and several other high-risk countries or regions, you must quarantine.
GREECE
A 3-week lockdown in Greece began on Saturday (November 7). It’s shuttering non-essential businesses and shops, while restaurants operate for delivery/takeout only. There’s a stay-at-home order, bar for essential trips (work, health, emergencies, shopping).
What It Means For Travelers: The lockdown brings tourism to a standstill. People can only leave home for the above reasons, and either with a form or by sending a text to justify their movements. Tests are mandatory for all foreign arrivals starting November 11.
IRELAND
The first European country to return to full-scale lockdown, Ireland’s “level five” restrictions in place since last Wednesday will last 6 weeks, but come up for review in a month.
For taoiseach (PM), Mícheál Martin, Ireland is now home to possibly “Europe’s strictest regime”.
What Are The Rules? People must stay at and work from home where possible. Exemptions include work and other essential purposes. No social or family gatherings are allowed, but there is no curfew.
Business Closures: Bars and restaurants are closed except for takeaway service. Essential services namely supermarkets stay open. Many other non-essential businesses including hairdressers and beauticians are closed.
People must exercise within 5km (3 miles) of home. Tough penalties apply to those who move outside their zone. Schools and creches are open. Read the full lockdown rules here.
What It Means For Travelers Face masks are mandatory. Transport services are reduced. US passport holders are welcome quarantine-free if arriving from a Covid Green list country. If traveling direct from the US, you must quarantine for 14 days. However you can transit quarantine-free or break quarantine to travel on.
NEW EUROPE LOCKDOWNS: THE RULES
ITALY
UPATE November 5: Read my latest Italy story here about new travel bans in Italy’s red and orange zones.
After making last-ditch efforts to avoid a return to full lockdown, Italy sweeps in new nationwide restrictions on November 6. This as new infections hit as high as 30,000 a day. The government move to impose localised lockdowns in several cities comes after the curve reaches “terrifying” levels reports Corriere della Sera.
This comes as cases soar to unprecedented new levels. Up from 2,000 new cases a day early in October, to a Saturday record of 19,640 new infections in 24 hours.
What Are The Rules: Starting today, food venues such as bars, gelateria and ristorante must shut by 6 p.m. While most stores and other businesses remain open. From November 4, all museums across the country must close.
What It Means For Travelers Masks in all outdoor public places, as well as indoors, nationwide. Yet Italy travel is still possible, even for “high-risk” travelers, after 14 days in a corridor country. Expect many closures.
SPAIN
State of alarm in Spain, full story:
– Decree imposes 11pm-6am curfew in all of Spain
– Social meetings limited to six people
– Regions will be able to close their borders
– Government wants emergency situation in place until May 2021 https://t.co/Lc7gUEnAQX— El País English Edition (@elpaisinenglish) October 25, 2020
On Sunday evening, Spain swept in a national state of emergency, and a night-time curfew. The curfew applies between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Initially its being enforced for a fortnight in all regions other than the Canary Islands. But Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez intends to ask parliament to extend the new rules for six months. So be prepared to face restrictions, even if your travels to Spain are well down the line.
What Are The Rules? There are maximum limits for public and private gatherings of six people.
What It Means For Travelers: Under the state of emergency, local authorities may ban travel between regions. Either way, expect to have travel rights possibly curbed. And your nightlife too. The curfew length may vary by an hour from one city to another. Still, the new measures are a huge hark back to what was until July one of the toughest lockdowns in the world.
WALES
Wales’s “firebreak lockdown” rules saw pubs, bars, restaurants, gyms and all non-essential shops shut on Friday. The “short, sharp” national lockdown is set to end on November 9. During that time, people are being urged to stay home. (Take outs by the way are possible). Some people feel the restrictions have gone way too far, with heavy-handed bans on the buying of non-essential goods.
This is horrifying. Blockades to stop people buying books in Wales. What next, newspapers? It isn’t based in science, it’s based in control. This never happened in the full lockdown and it shouldn’t happen for one day more in Wales, @MarkDrakeford. pic.twitter.com/gHL57ThPb2
— Benjamin Butterworth (@benjaminbutter) October 24, 2020
TOWARDS MORE EUROPE LOCKDOWNS & TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS?
As a Covid second wave rages in Europe, most countries are hell-bent on avoiding a return to full lockdowns. But nothing can be ruled out in this unpredictable virus landscape we’ve all been living in for months.
If more countries go Ireland’s way, the ramifications of new Europe lockdowns for travelers will again reach new heights. (Something which in retrospect is happening).