{"id":183786,"date":"2022-02-05T18:28:55","date_gmt":"2022-02-05T16:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greeknewsondemand.com\/?p=183786"},"modified":"2022-02-05T18:31:55","modified_gmt":"2022-02-05T16:31:55","slug":"183786","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greeknewsondemand.com\/2022\/02\/05\/183786\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Countries Roll Back COVID Restrictions, Israel Scraps \u2018Green Pass\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"dbebbc8e642739d63d7417ce1893e709\" data-index=\"5\" style=\"float: none; margin:10px 0 10px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Beautiful Ads -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:inline-block;width:728px;height:90px\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7527341994815378\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3477329686\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"post-heading\">\n<div class=\"date-and-breadcrumb\">\n<div class=\"date\">02\/03\/22<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"post-title\" style=\"text-align: center;\">12 Countries Roll Back COVID Restrictions, Israel Scraps \u2018Green Pass\u2019<\/h1>\n<h4 class=\"post-excerpt\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sweden and Switzerland joined Denmark, Norway, Finland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Italy, Lithuania, France and the UK in announcing they will lift COVID restrictions and open up their countries&#8230;<\/em><\/h4>\n<div class=\"share-section\">\n<div class=\"post-authors\"><span class=\"by-by\">By <\/span><a style=\"font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Graphik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125rem;\" href=\"https:\/\/childrenshealthdefense.org\/authors\/megan-redshaw\/\">Megan Redshaw<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"share-area noprint\">\n<div class=\"copied-tool-tip\">\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Europe is accelerating steps to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2022-02-02\/europe-accelerates-move-to-pandemic-exit-on-waning-scare-factor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">roll back COVID restrictions<\/a>\u00a0as efforts to control the spread of the virus have failed and countries downgrade the threat posed by SARS-CoV-2.<\/p>\n<p>Sweden and Switzerland joined Denmark, Norway, Finland, Ireland,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/coronavirus-pandemic-boris-johnson-health-business-sajid-javid-0c6d0302f6dabc7f1f7e633cc3a81d06\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Netherlands<\/a>, Italy, Lithuania, France and the UK in announcing they will\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/sweden-lifts-coronavirus-restrictions-madgalena-andersson-omicron-endemic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">lift COVID restrictions<\/a>\u00a0and open up their countries.<\/p>\n<p>Top Israeli officials also\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/mkt_app\/israel-to-end-covid-19-vaccine-passport-for-most-places_4252984.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">announced<\/a>\u00a0this week they are abolishing the country\u2019s \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/corona.health.gov.il\/en\/green-pass-lobby\/green-pass-info\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Green Pass<\/a>\u201d COVID vaccine passport for restaurants, hotels, gyms and theaters.<\/p>\n<p>The policy update will take effect Feb. 6, Prime Minister Naftali Bennet\u2019s government said, pending\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/live-news\/20220202-vaccine-passport-pioneer-israel-to-curb-use-of-green-pass\">approval<\/a>\u00a0by a parliamentary committee. Israel\u2019s proof-of-vaccination policy will remain in effect for events such as parties or weddings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo continue the green pass in the same way can create false assurances,\u201d said\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fulbrightsplitscreen.com\/articles\/nadav-davidovitch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nadav Davidovitch<\/a>, an epidemiologist and public health physician advising Prime Minister Naftali Bennet\u2019s government. \u201cIt\u2019s not reducing infections in closed spaces like theatres. It needs to be used mainly for high-risk places like hospitals, elderly care homes, or events when you are eating and singing and dancing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sweden will\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/sweden-lifts-coronavirus-restrictions-madgalena-andersson-omicron-endemic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">lift all COVID restrictions<\/a>\u00a0by Feb. 9, the Swedish government said today.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7527341994815378\" data-ad-slot=\"2909811163\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>According to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/sweden-lifts-coronavirus-restrictions-madgalena-andersson-omicron-endemic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Politico<\/a>, the Swedish Public Health Agency said it reassessed COVID as \u201cnot being socially critical\u201d due to a better understanding of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bnonews.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/sweden-to-drop-all-covid-19-restrictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Omicron variant<\/a>, which is milder and associated with fewer hospitalizations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s time to open up Sweden,\u201d said Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. \u201cThe pandemic isn\u2019t over, but it is moving into a new phase.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The decision to open Sweden came a day after Switzerland, citing high immunity levels and the milder\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/childrenshealthdefense.org\/defender\/omicron-surges-fda-vaccine-strategy-question\/\">Omicron<\/a>\u00a0variant,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/eng\/swiss-ease-covid-19-curbs-and-plan-gradual-phase-out\/47313964\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">announced<\/a>\u00a0it will abolish mandatory work-from-home and the quarantine rules beginning today.<\/p>\n<p>The government also will lift health measures at the borders and tourists will no longer need to receive Swiss COVID certificates.<\/p>\n<p>The Swiss government said it planned to phase out other restrictions after consulting with 26 cantons, employers, trade unions and parliamentary committees.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7527341994815378\" data-ad-slot=\"2909811163\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>In two weeks, the government will determine the next steps to relax pandemic measures depending on the health situation, according to an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.admin.ch\/gov\/en\/start\/documentation\/media-releases.msg-id-87041.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">official statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Options include a staggered exit strategy or an abrupt end to all COVID measures on Feb. 17.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Denmark to classify COVID as endemic disease\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Just days before Sweden and Switzerland\u2019s announcements, Denmark\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/02\/01\/europe\/denmark-lifts-covid-restrictions-intl\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">became the first country<\/a>\u00a0in the European Union to lift all COVID restrictions,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/covid-19-no-longer-a-socially-critical-disease-in-denmark-health-minister-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reclassifying COVID<\/a>\u00a0as an endemic disease.<\/p>\n<p>Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke on Feb. 1 wrote a letter to the parliament\u2019s epidemiology committee stating COVID was no longer a \u201csocially critical disease.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Based on the recommendations of the committee, the government decided to scrap COVID restrictions.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201crules will lapse when the illness will no longer be categorized as \u2018socially critical\u2019 on 1 February 2022,\u201d Heunicke\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.dk\/samling\/20211\/almdel\/EPI\/bilag\/327\/2518597.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7527341994815378\" data-ad-slot=\"2909811163\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/covid-19-no-longer-a-socially-critical-disease-in-denmark-health-minister-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">classification of a disease<\/a>\u00a0as \u201csocially critical\u201d gave the government authority to implement broad restrictive measures such as shutting businesses and making mask-wearing mandatory.<\/p>\n<p>An\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/covid-19-no-longer-a-socially-critical-disease-in-denmark-health-minister-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">endemic disease<\/a>\u00a0circulates freely but is recognized as posing less of a threat to societies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo one can know what will happen next December,\u201d Heunicke\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/02\/01\/europe\/denmark-lifts-covid-restrictions-intl\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">told CNN<\/a>\u00a0on Monday. \u201cBut we promised the citizens of Denmark that we will only have restrictions if they are truly necessary and we\u2019ll lift them as soon as we can. That\u2019s what\u2019s happening right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When asked about vaccine mandates, Heunicke said:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuckily we don\u2019t need that in Denmark \u2026 I\u2019m really happy that we don\u2019t need it because it\u2019s a very troubling path to move that way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>S\u00f8ren Brostr\u00f8m, director-general of Denmark\u2019s Health Authority agreed:<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7527341994815378\" data-ad-slot=\"2909811163\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI do not believe in imposed vaccine mandates. It\u2019s a pharmaceutical intervention with possible side effects. You need as an authority, to recognize that. I think if you push too much, you will have a reaction \u2014 action generates reaction, especially with vaccines.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Danish authorities will still recommend taking at-home tests when coming into contact with large groups of people and will make PCR tests available to the public. Travelers entering the country will still be tested upon entry.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Other European Companies drop COVID restrictions\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Italy, France, Norway, Lithuania, England and Finland also relaxed restrictions,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2022-02-02\/europe-accelerates-move-to-pandemic-exit-on-waning-scare-factor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bloomberg reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe should discuss whether it\u2019s time for us to take a different viewpoint and start unwinding restrictions even with a high number of infections,\u201d Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told reporters. \u201cI hope that we can be rid of restrictions during February.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At a meeting in Helsinki to discuss the pace of removing restrictions, the government decided to lift all limits on gatherings and ease restrictions on restaurants and bars on Feb. 14. Night clubs will remain closed until March 1. Cultural venues, events and sports will be free from restrictions.<\/p>\n<p>Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi\u2019s administration met Wednesday to discuss how to curb restrictions. The government will initially focus on quarantine rules for children and plans to cut the 10-day isolation requirement down to five.<\/p>\n<p>France on Wednesday ended mandatory work-from-home rules, eliminated requirements on face masks outdoors and lifted attendance restrictions at stadiums and theaters. However the country\u2019s vaccine pass will remain in place until hospitals are able to function normally without canceling non-emergency procedures to make room for COVID patients in intensive care, Health Minister Olivier Veran\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-us\/news\/world\/frances-covid-vaccine-pass-to-stay-until-icus-are-emptied-says-health-minister\/ar-AATpF0D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a>\u00a0on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Asked whether France would require a second booster shot, Veran said it would depend on whether there were further mutations of the virus.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7527341994815378\" data-ad-slot=\"2909811163\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Lithuanian government is\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2022-02-02\/europe-accelerates-move-to-pandemic-exit-on-waning-scare-factor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">dropping its requirement<\/a>\u00a0to present a vaccination certificate in public areas, such as restaurants and sporting events, and unvaccinated workers will no longer be required to undergo weekly testing.<\/p>\n<p>Norway followed suit and lifted restrictions on private gatherings, bars and restaurants and will not require border testing.<\/p>\n<p>England last week\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/coronavirus-pandemic-boris-johnson-health-business-sajid-javid-0c6d0302f6dabc7f1f7e633cc3a81d06\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">announced<\/a>\u00a0it was lifting its COVID restrictions. Beginning Jan. 27, face coverings were no longer required by law anywhere in England and the legal requirement for COVID passes to enter large venues and clubs were scrapped.<\/p>\n<p>The government also dropped guidance for face-covering in classrooms, advice for people working from home and restrictions for nursing home visitors.<\/p>\n<p>On Jan. 26, the Netherlands reopened restaurants, bars, museums and theaters as part of a broader easing of restrictions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lockdowns had little-to-no benefit on public health, analysis shows<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Few studies, if any, have been carried out to determine\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/mkt_app\/israel-to-end-covid-19-vaccine-passport-for-most-places_4252984.html?v=ul\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">whether vaccine passports<\/a>\u00a0and COVID restrictions actually lowered COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths.<\/p>\n<p>However, a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sites.krieger.jhu.edu\/iae\/files\/2022\/01\/A-Literature-Review-and-Meta-Analysis-of-the-Effects-of-Lockdowns-on-COVID-19-Mortality.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">recent analysis<\/a>\u00a0published by researchers at Johns Hopkins found COVID lockdown measures implemented in the U.S. and Europe had almost no effect on public health.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe find little-to-no evidence that mandated lockdowns in Europe and the United States had a noticeable effect on COVID-19 mortality rates,\u201d the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sites.krieger.jhu.edu\/iae\/files\/2022\/01\/A-Literature-Review-and-Meta-Analysis-of-the-Effects-of-Lockdowns-on-COVID-19-Mortality.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">researchers wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers also examined shelter-in-place orders, finding they reduced COVID mortality only by 2.9%.<\/p>\n<p>Studies assessing only shelter-in-place orders found a mortality reduction of 5.1%, but when combined with other lockdown measures, shelter-in-place orders actually increased COVID mortality by 2.8%.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers found limits on gatherings may have actually increased COVID mortality. They wrote:<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7527341994815378\" data-ad-slot=\"2909811163\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Shelter-in-place orders] may isolate an infected person at home with his\/her family where he\/she risks infecting family members with a higher viral load, causing more severe illness. But often, lockdowns have limited people\u2019s access to safe (outdoor) places such as beaches, parks and zoos, or included outdoor mask mandates or strict outdoor gathering restrictions, pushing people to meet at less safe (indoor) places.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>COVID lockdown measures also contributed to \u201creducing economic activity, rising unemployment, reducing schooling, causing political unrest, contributing to domestic violence and undermining liberal democracy,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-area-post-footer\">\n<div class=\"author-post-footer\">\n<div class=\"author-img-footer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/childrenshealthdefense.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/megan_redshaw-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Megan Redshaw's avatar\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-details-footer\">\n<p class=\"author-name-footer\"><a href=\"https:\/\/childrenshealthdefense.org\/authors\/megan-redshaw\/\">Megan Redshaw<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"author-post-bio\">Megan Redshaw is a freelance reporter for The Defender. She has a background in political science, a law degree and extensive training in natural health.<\/p>\n<p>SOURCE &gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/childrenshealthdefense.org\/defender\/12-countries-covid-restrictions-israel-green-pass\/\">https:\/\/childrenshealthdefense.org\/defender\/12-countries-covid-restrictions-israel-green-pass\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>02\/03\/22 12 Countries Roll Back COVID Restrictions, Israel Scraps \u2018Green Pass\u2019 Sweden and Switzerland&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":183767,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"quote","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48565],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greeknewsondemand.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183786"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greeknewsondemand.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greeknewsondemand.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greeknewsondemand.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greeknewsondemand.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=183786"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/greeknewsondemand.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183786\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greeknewsondemand.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/183767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greeknewsondemand.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=183786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greeknewsondemand.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=183786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greeknewsondemand.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=183786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}