European countries are taking strict precautionary measures against the mutated Omicron you know the most prominent of them

The Netherlands announces a strict closure during the Christmas and New Year holidays, and France cancels parades and celebrations on the Champs Elysees on New Year's Eve in an attempt to limit the speed of the spread of infections with the mutated Omicron strain of the Corona virus.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Saturday that his country will impose a strict lockdown during the Christmas and New Year holidays in an attempt to slow the spread of infections with the mutated Omicron strain of the Corona virus.

The measures, which include the closure of all non-essential stores, restaurants, hairdressers and gyms, will come into effect on Sunday and remain in effect until January 14, while all schools will be closed until January 9.

"The Netherlands will impose the closure again," Rutte told a televised news conference.

This is inevitable because of the fifth wave that is coming to us with the mutant Omicron."

Other measures include a recommendation that families not receive more than two visitors at home, and that gatherings in open spaces are also limited to a maximum of two people.

The prime minister said failure to act now would result in an "uncontrollable situation in hospitals" that have already scaled back their regular care services to make room for COVID-19 patients.

France cancels major New Year's parties

In the same context, French Prime Minister Jean Castix announced the cancellation of the fireworks displays and celebrations that take place on the Champs Elysees on New Year's Eve, with the aim of confronting the Corona mutant "Omicron".

On Saturday, the local BFM channel quoted Castex as saying that "Paris has canceled the fireworks displays and celebrations that take place on the Champs Elysees on New Year's Eve, in line with government rules to prevent an outbreak of Omicron."

And on Friday, Castex recommended to citizens, in a press conference, to conduct a medical examination for the Corona virus before gathering at New Year’s parties, including the two restaurants.

Britain expects an increase in infections with Omicron

For their part, scientific advisers to the British government say that hundreds of thousands of people will be infected with the mutated Omicron strain of the Corona virus every day, and that the number of hospital admissions is likely to rise.

"The number of Omicron cases admitted to UK hospitals may be around one-tenth of the true number due to the delay in hospital reporting data," the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies said in the minutes of its meeting on 16 December.

Data published today, Saturday, showed that confirmed infections in Omicron amounted to 24,968 cases as of 1800 GMT on December 17, just over ten thousand cases recorded 24 hours ago.

According to the meeting minutes, without further action to slow the spread of Covid-19, "hospitalization peaks will reach at least 3,000 cases per day in England".