Neither pass nor pass

If a Berliner wants to spend a vacation in Bavaria, he may now be denied a hotel check-in. The new rules, which threaten to make it difficult for German citizens to travel in Germany themselves, were agreed by the head of the government office Helge Braun and his colleagues from most states. According to the project, which was at the disposal of the newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, we are talking about restrictions on immigrants from those regions of Germany, where the rate of coronavirus infection is more than 50 people per 100 thousand inhabitants within seven days.

So far, the Robert Koch Institute has recognized as such five districts of Berlin, two cities in North Rhine-Westphalia and one district each in Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemberg. However, many other areas across Germany are already approaching a critical mark, where more than 4,000 new infections were detected on Thursday morning (1200 more patients than the day before). The only thing that can serve as an “indulgence” for tourists from internal risk areas is a negative covid test. However, it must be done no earlier than 48 hours before check-in at the hotel.

In Germany, controversy has already erupted over at whose expense such testing should be carried out. So far, the insurance only covers the cost of tests for tourists returning from abroad. The rest of the citizens who do not have any symptoms of infection cannot count on a free procedure without a doctor’s prescription. Meanwhile, some states, including pandemic-stricken Berlin, are not ready to agree with these plans.

Italy

The Italian authorities have extended the emergency regime introduced in connection with the pandemic until January 31, and also made the wearing of masks mandatory even in the fresh air. The decision of the authorities is dictated by the worsening epidemiological situation in the Apennines. On Wednesday, the country recorded the largest increase in new cases of coronavirus – 3,678 – a thousand more than in the previous day. The requirement for wearing a mask in the workplace also remains. The amount of the fine for non-compliance with this requirement is from 400 to one thousand euros. However, you can forget about the mask during sports while maintaining a distance of 2 meters, as well as at home, although Premier Conte recommends wearing it even in the company of family and friends. Nightclubs will remain closed, but theaters, cinemas and concert halls can operate with a maximum of 200 spectators.

Prepared by Niva Mirakyan

Netherlands

Employers must pay telecommuting employees about two euros per day. The Dutch expert foundation NIBUD estimates that this is the average cost of coffee, tea, toilet paper, gas, electricity and water that companies save while their employees spend working at home. Compensation for wear and tear on the desk and chair may be added to this. But the equipment necessary for work, for example, computers and telephones, for employees, according to Dutch specialists, should be provided by their employers. According to Reuters, the Dutch authorities have taken note of the NIBUD settlement system and are planning to additionally pay civil servants on a remote location 363 euros per month.

Prepared Ariadna Rokossovskaya