Covid restrictions abroad: updates & observations

[Eyersey468]

The German chancellor has courted controversy by travelling maskless despite the mask mandate extension:



Seems very hypocritical.

Sounds about right

 

[Bungle73]

The German chancellor has courted controversy by travelling maskless despite the mask mandate extension:



Seems very hypocritical.

Boris would be proud.

 

[westv]

There has just been a piece on the local Barcelona news pointing out the lack of mask wearing on trains and the Metro. Couldn’t tell the ‘tone’ of it as it was in Catalan. Even the burly security guards on trains have only told people to put them on one in four times.

Ii did wonder what it might be like when I visit Tarragona in October.
Not planning much public transport use though.

 

[Hans]

You were very, very lucky.Believe me.

I am sure there was a large part of luck involved, but it was interesting my wife and I were in Germany at differing times and both managed not to be challenged about wearing a mask. I was on a cross border train at one point, German police boarded the train to check passports, not one of them mentioned me not wearing a mask.

 

[43096]

I returned at the weekend from two weeks in the USA, and only had to wear a mask once. Most areas are now making them "optional", but for some reason in New York they're still mandatory on public transport - the majority didn't wear one, including staff and Police; just had one Metro North guard who was making people wear them. What is it about city mayors (see also London and Vienna) and masks?

 

[Mainline421]

Interesting comment about German trains - just another perspective, wife and I have both had trips to Germany over the last couple of months and travelled on many German trains, mainly ICE in first class. Neither of us wore a mask at any point and were never challenged. As with all these restrictions, I expect it depends on the people and staff involved.

The longest journey I did, there were plenty of mostly men (including me!) drinking beer whilst using laptops. When tickets were checked, or DB staff came through the conversation from the staff was more "you must be near to getting another beer" than "wear a mask".

This was my experince too, including the police at the border as well. Although I passed through Germany on a Nightjet this week and while no one on my train wore masks or said anything, compliance did seem high on the DB trains we passed.

 

[Segedunum]

Amsterdam Schiphol is obsessed still with social distancing signage. As far as I can tell there aren't any actual rules, either.

I noticed Sweden still had a lot of similar signage up on trains but rather a more different "respect each others space" sort of tone.

Finland and Estonia, nothing at all. Everything back to normal.

 

[nedchester]

I returned at the weekend from two weeks in the USA, and only had to wear a mask once. Most areas are now making them "optional", but for some reason in New York they're still mandatory on public transport - the majority didn't wear one, including staff and Police; just had one Metro North guard who was making people wear them. What is it about city mayors (see also London and Vienna) and masks?

The only place(s) in the USA I found they were obsessed about masks was the National Parks (on buses and boats) and inside some places run by the same.

 

[kristiang85]

I'm still trying to work out Nicaragua's mask rules, despite being here for 3 weeks now.

In taxis you need to wear them, but not buses.

Hotel receptions differ on their rules, with about 50/50 so far.

I've been allowed in cathedrals without a mask, but had to wear one when on the roof of one.

Shops and restaurants are fine without masks, but you have to wear one when you're own your own in an ATM vestibule.

It's so odd.

 

[Razorblades]

I'm still trying to work out Nicaragua's mask rules, despite being here for 3 weeks now.

In taxis you need to wear them, but not buses.

Hotel receptions differ on their rules, with about 50/50 so far.

I've been allowed in cathedrals without a mask, but had to wear one when on the roof of one.

Shops and restaurants are fine without masks, but you have to wear one when you're own your own in an ATM vestibule.

It's so odd.

It really isn't 'odd,' it's control, madness - perpetrated by servants of the people. About time the rest of society stopped humouring these big babies.

 

[johnnychips]

Just a final note from my very enjoyable holiday in Barcelona. The flight back was on Vueling, a Spanish airline under the BA/Iberia umbrella. Policeman at the gate ensuring everyone put a mask on. Most people kept them on during the flight, a lot below the nose. I would like to say I rebelled and took mine off, but I fell asleep for most of the journey, so I don’t know if the cabin crew enforced it.

 

[greyman42]

Just a final note from my very enjoyable holiday in Barcelona. The flight back was on Vueling, a Spanish airline under the BA/Iberia umbrella. Policeman at the gate ensuring everyone put a mask on. Most people kept them on during the flight, a lot below the nose. I would like to say I rebelled and took mine off, but I fell asleep for most of the journey, so I don’t know if the cabin crew enforced it.

Obviously not if you did not wear yours.
I would not say you rebelled, you just behaved normally.

 

[nedchester]

Portugal have lifted their masks requirements in the last few days.

 

[Richard Scott]

Portugal have lifted their masks requirements in the last few days.

Making Germany look more ridiculous by the day!

 

[D6130]

Making Germany look more ridiculous by the day!

....and Italy!

 

[Richard Scott]

....and Italy!

Forgot about them! Guessing forgot Spain too!

 

[Watershed]

Forgot about them! Guessing forgot Spain too!

Those three are the only remaining outliers in Europe. They surely can't hold out forever - though Germany's locktivist Health Minister is clearly trying very hard, having demonstrated the ridiculously unscientific nature of the mask mandate by extending it to a random date in April.

The German government is also talking about reintroducing restrictions in October. They have clearly gone absolutely bonkers.

 

[Richard Scott]

Those three are the only remaining outliers in Europe. They surely can't hold out forever - though Germany's locktivist Health Minister is clearly trying very hard, having demonstrated the ridiculously unscientific nature of the mask mandate by extending it to a random date in April.

The German government is also talking about reintroducing restrictions in October. They have clearly gone absolutely bonkers.

Agreed, really can't believe their persistence with this.

 

[westv]

Portugal have lifted their masks requirements in the last few days.

what about their requirements when entering the country?

 

[Watershed]

what about their requirements when entering the country?

Those were lifted at the start of July.

That leaves the Netherlands and Luxembourg as the only countries in Europe with Covid-related entry restrictions. And Germany, Italy and Spain as the remaining outliers with public transport mask mandates.

 

[westv]

Those were lifted at the start of July.

That leaves the Netherlands and Luxembourg as the only countries in Europe with Covid-related entry restrictions. And Germany, Italy and Spain as the remaining outliers with public transport mask mandates.

Spain requires forms for those from the UK too.

 

[johnnychips]

Spain requires forms for those from the UK too.

It requires a vaccination certificate or proof of COVID in the last six months. If you are unvaccinated you need to take a test and fill in a form, otherwise you don’t:

Entry requirements - Spain travel advice

FCDO travel advice for Spain. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

www.gov.uk

 

[westv]

It requires a vaccination certificate or proof of COVID in the last six months. If you are unvaccinated you need to take a test and fill in a form, otherwise you don’t:

Entry requirements - Spain travel advice

FCDO travel advice for Spain. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

www.gov.uk

Yes, so a form in some form for everybody (UK) then.

 

[johnnychips]

Yes, so a form in some form for everybody (UK) then.

Ah, I see what you mean. The vaccination certificate is really easy to get on your phone though if you have the NHS app. It was asked for, but only glanced at.

 

[Watershed]

Spain requires forms for those from the UK too.

Apologies, overlooked that. Spain therefore has the dubious honour of being the only country in Europe to require vaccine passports or tests as well as mandating face masks on public rransport.

Still, it's only a very small number of countries that have these requirements so it's easy enough to avoid them.

 

[Hans]

Ah, I see what you mean. The vaccination certificate is really easy to get on your phone though if you have the NHS app. It was asked for, but only glanced at.

Certificates are only easy on your phone if you are vaccinated! Travelling to those EU countries with remaining restrictions can be ignored if travelling from another EU country.

 

[DanNCL]

Can anyone shed light on what the rules around masks are on Wiener Linien please? Their website still mentions FFP2 masks but it doesn't seem to have been updated for a while.

 

[sheff1]

Those three are the only remaining outliers in Europe.

As has been highlighted, those 3 countries have been under popular (with a large % or even majority of citizens) facist rule in living memory.

Meanwhile I have been in Denmark & Sweden this month - completely back to normal as far as I saw and no sign of any (immigration, not covid) Swedish police checks on the Oresund route either, despite on board announcements that they were still in place.

 

[P Binnersley]

Can anyone shed light on what the rules around masks are on Wiener Linien please? Their website still mentions FFP2 masks but it doesn't seem to have been updated for a while.

FFP2 masks are still required on public transport in Vienna, but not elsewhere in Austria.

Service & Facts ➢ Information for your Trip to Austria

Useful tips, practical information, and interesting facts: ✓ Public holidays ✓ Currency ✓ History ✓ Climate & nature ✓ What are Austrians like

www.austria.info

• FFP 2 masks are no longer mandatory in essential shops and when using public transport in all Austrian federal provinces except for Vienna.
• In Vienna only, FFP 2 masks remain compulsory on public transport and in pharmacies.

 

[Watershed]

As has been highlighted, those 3 countries have been under popular (with a large % or even majority of citizens) facist rule in living memory.

Meanwhile I have been in Denmark & Sweden this month - completely back to normal as far as I saw and no sign of any (immigration, not covid) Swedish police checks on the Oresund route either, despite on board announcements that they were still in place.

Indeed that has been my experience of the Nordics too. Very little Covid signage and perhaps 1% of people wearing masks, if that. Definitely a more 'back to normal' position than the UK, let alone other parts of the world!