Global coronavirus situation: Israel enforces curfew, Europe strengthens lockdown measures
Israel has implemented a national digital vaccination registry, consolidating vaccination records to monitor COVID-19 and other vaccine data. Despite this, travel advisories rate Israel at Level 3 ("Reconsider travel") primarily due to security issues rather than COVID-19-related concerns.
United Kingdom, Germany, California, Turkey, Sweden, Switzerland, and The Netherlands have eased or removed most COVID-19 restrictions by August 2025, focusing on vaccination campaigns, monitoring variants, and maintaining updated health advisories.
In Germany, regions such as Saxony, Bavaria, and an unspecified region in the north, have tightened lockdowns due to a sharp increase in infections. Measures include closing non-essential stores, schools, and kindergartens, making masks mandatory outdoors, and banning alcohol sales. The German government is reportedly planning a nationwide lockdown after Christmas.
Bavaria, specifically, has imposed strict rules, allowing people to leave their homes only for specific reasons.
In California, the situation remains critical, with almost all residents ordered to stay home under a strict lockdown. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with patients in tents due to high numbers of COVID-19 cases.
Turkey set a new record for daily coronavirus cases and deaths, with over 33,000 infections and 200 fatalities. The country has yet to release information on its current COVID-19 restrictions.
In Sweden, while gatherings of more than 8 people are banned for Christmas and New Year celebrations, the country has generally moved away from strong legal restrictions, focusing on vaccination and health monitoring. Residents are urged to avoid public transportation, shopping centers, museums, and gyms.
Switzerland is preparing to tighten restrictions, proposing to close restaurants, shops, and markets, impose restrictions on entertainment venues and sports clubs, and ban gatherings of more than 5 people, except for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
In The Netherlands, the number of daily infections has exceeded 7,000 for the first time in a month, prompting discussions about new restrictions.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned against letting the guard down, despite the vaccine rollout in the UK. The UK prioritises the elderly over 80 and healthcare workers for the vaccination campaign.
Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old from England, has received the first Pfizer BioNTech coronavirus vaccine in the UK.
Note: This article is based on the provided bullet points and the search results as of August 2025. For more detailed and up-to-date information on a specific country’s COVID-19 status, it is recommended to consult local sources or government health departments.
Science plays a crucial role in the United Kingdom's healthcare system as they prioritize the elderly and healthcare workers in their vaccination campaign, using the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Medical-conditions and health-and-wellness are at the forefront of national strategies, with travel advisories evaluating each country's risk levels based on COVID-19 and other medical factors.
