If you live outside the UK

[zen1]

How is the government reacting to Omicron in your country? Is there a drive like there is here to give everyone over 18 a booster jab ASAP?
How often are you advised to carry out LFTs?
I’m just interested as our government seems to be in a complete panic.

Canada (British Columbia) here. I've yet to see a LFT or a PCR test here; I think only travellers use them. They're expensive - about £75.

TX, USA

My impressions are no one gives a fuck anymore. I have no idea on the testing, although my friend gets tested whenever she has a sniffle Or is meeting someone or after a meeting. We get a notice if there is a case in child’s class but they don’t actually tell us what to do. So we do nothing. No.2 son asked for a test one time it happened, 180 USD they wanted for that. Thankfully have met some copays so was 18 in the end. Couldn’t book at the time for a free test. Took the preschooler for one last week as she had a cough, that was free at the pharmacy.

My eldest’s high school has 4 reported current cases out of a student population of 3500.

Plenty still WFH fully or going in to the office 2 days a week. Restaurants are fully, shops are full, little mask wearing. No masks required at school.

Last positivity rate I saw was just under 8%

Have you not had to have a PCR test so far, @merryxmasmelodies? I’ve only had one myself, but my younger DC have had several to be allowed back to school if sent home with two or more symptoms. Or something like that. Hard to keep up with the rules.

New Zealand.

First cohort has now had boosters, everyone eligible 6 months after their 2nd jab which for most isn't until early 2022.

As a nation we're at 90% fully vaxxed for ages 12+.
Approval for under 12s pending

Masks mandatory in shops and basically any business/indoor place unless eating.

Eateries, hairdressers, salons open only to those with vax passes.

Domestic travel for all who can show vax pass or negative covid result.

Am in Australia (NSW). Booster jabs are available at the 6-month mark, or at 5-months for over-50s and vulnerable groups.

Today, NSW are free to come and go without masks, or checking in! This is the first time since end June. Still need masks where we cannot socially distance, and also on public transport, flights etc. Checking in is required at certain venues still but not everywhere.
It's worth noting there's no national approach, each state is doing their own thing (a bit like NI, England, Scotland, Wales approach I suppose).

Unsure if this will continue, or will be curtailed due to Omicron. Time will tell I'm sure.

[quote madisonbridges]@Longwayfromhome21. Thanks for that we don't hear a lot from those in Asia. Its great that you've avoided deaths, but what will happen when you open up again? You say there's no exit strategy but is there any gossip about it? Is the feeling they'll sit it out with the borders closed til it's gone completely? Or do they think the vaccine will be sufficient? It'll be very interesting to see how those Asian countries, which have done so well, move forward over the next year.[/quote]
We're actually in Hong Kong, so part of China and if anything rumour has it they will double down on isolation and keeping the borders closed... we don't expect a change any time soon, unless Omnicron runs riot and forces change. China feel proud that their system works 'better' than Western systems. Most other places in Asia have opened up already. We have had some (quite serious!) stress from quarantines and testing and the threat of having kids removed is ever present (anyone with covid goes to isolation ward until test negative twice, even if asymptomatic) and we have not seen extended family for a long time BUT it is comforting to know we have a fully functioning health system and we basically live normal lives with masks on. For those locals who do not wish to travel then this policy of keeping covid out works perfectly. Expats like us are leaving in droves.

NYC here.
Vaccinations fully available 5 years up.
Boosters for everyone 16+. Can get them at pretty much any pharmacy.
Covid testing widely available.
Updated indoor mask mandate.

Kids in school masked and tested most weeks.

Rates for covid rapidly increasing post Thanksgiving.

Adults were all directed to get boosters at the 6 month mark before Omicron hit.
Kids 5 and up were already eligible to be double jabbed.
Suspect ages 12 and up will be offered booster soon.
Mask mandates were already in place in schools. People were still WFH whenever possible.

Not much needed to change aside from having another talking point for trying to continue to convince people to get vaccinated.

I believe there are additional travel restrictions. Those seem to change almost daily at this point and I have no plans to travel so I don’t track them closely.

Can I ask where you are @Blossom64265? I looked back but I couldn't see that you had said. Apologies if I missed it.

NZ - the push for people to have 6 monthly boosters started before Omnicron. The vulnerable are just receiving them now.

Cabinet has pretty much knocked off for the year, but the PM's announcement on Monday stated they would be reviewing the opening to vaxed NZ citizens in Australia that was due to commence mid January. There is talk MIQ will be required for those instead of self isolation for 7 days.

Just to add on Australia (NSW)- they seem to be letting anyone get boosters (eg not just over 50s) after 5 months- also people can get them earlier (someone i know is getting one today only 3 months after 2nd - because she is coming to the UK). Children over 5 can get jabbed in january.
LFTs aren't really a thing that I've seen much of (not compared to the UK)
Feels very different here than in UK- levels of vaccination are really high and we are all used to checking in to venues/showing Vaccination certs etc and wearing masks- seems odd seeing all the objections. The relaxation of the rules today is based on the double vac rate being 95% I think
the concern here is that the Government reactions can be pretty abrupt/binary- particularly in restricting travel

Vietnam here - we are all getting our boosters 3 months after our 2nd jab. Priority to the usual groups (I'm a teacher). All schools have been shut since April but all secondary kids now vaccinated so we are expecting them back after the Christmas holidays. All staff have to do a LFT Sunday afternoon and upload the details onto a school shared doc.as we are in school reaching remotely. It's very organised but people take covid VERY seriously here, masks on all the time and children will be wearing masks in school all day when they return.

I should add in Vietnam no unvaccinated teachers or school staff are allowed to be in school.

Singapore. We are the most highly vaccinated country in the world with around 97% of the eligible population double vaccinated. Boosters have been well underway for some time and yes a big drive to get them now with Omicron. However it's contextual. Since vaccines were approved we have mandatory vaccine passports (double vaxxed + 2 weeks) required to enter pretty much everywhere if you are over 12 years old, shops, shopping centres, cafes, restaurants, outdoor attractions, cinemas, etc. This will soon be the case for boosters.

Since the beginning we have had mandatory masks everywhere over the age of 6 indoors and outdoors off your property, in schools, parks, the middle of the jungle, wherever.... Those who are exempt can wear a shield but honestly I can't remember the last time I saw one. Masks will be here for another year or so at least. It's usually 35 degrees and 70+% humidity. Not many people complain.

We still have a 10.30pm restaurant curfew. Music was banned for a few months but is back now.

We had one brief period of groups of 8 allowed for a couple of months, otherwise we have been in groups of 2 or 5 since the beginning (including family - so when it was groups of 2 could not leave house with the kids), however for the most part schools have remained open as have shops. We are currently at 5. Mask-off activities (ie F&B establishments) have been on and off, but more on than off. Penalties for disobeying the rules are severe (losing work visa, being chucked out of the country etc).

Borders only opened a few months ago and we have limited countries we can go to (around 12 I think) without hotel quarantine on the way home. Hotel quarantine here is significantly stricter than the UK version. Permission from the government is required to travel back into Singapore for the most part. Until recently any covid cases, even asymptomatic, were taken into isolation facilities to "recover". This has now changed to home quarantine (except for Omicron - see below).

The policy here is to open up borders and the country overall but very slowly so minimising deaths - they've very clearly stated they will not follow the UK "freedom day" approach. Their view is that they are one of a few countries who were zero covid to begin with and now want to open - but this means they don't have a similar example to follow and are having to find their own path. There have been less than 800 deaths in total. It's very frustrating but weirdly I also understand it.They need to open - it's too much of a hub not to.

In response to Omicron borders have remained open which is amazing. However now we need to test every day for 7 days on the way back in, one PCR at airport, also at day 3 and 7 in a centre, the others at home. Any Omicron cases detected on arrival are immediately quarantined in hospital. Any close contacts of Omicron cases (ie the entire plane) are taken to hotel quarantine for 7-10 days. To my knowledge 3-4 planeloads have been quarantined so far, I don't know how sustainable this will be in a month, however only fully vaccinated/PCR tested people can enter so I guess imports will be limited a bit. I am travelling back to the UK next week and was nervous they would shut while I was out and we wouldn't get back, but I think they will hold their nerve.

As someone who follows the UK news very carefully and works in immunology/healthcare, I think the British government appears in a panic because nothing seems well thought through and they jump from one extreme to the other with endless accompanying drama. Empty promises, no clear roadmap. Just seems messy. Even though things are WAY stricter here, it also feels calmer and I'm more reassured things will remain stable...

In Argentina they have been reporting on the situation in the UK.

US and I did my booster end of september and now all adults I know have had it. We also have weekly covid testing in our school and I just got a message to say someone at our site has tested positive and that will explain why certain classrooms had the sanitizer machine in there this morning- they come in and spray a mist onto everything. Masks in all shops- the masks never went away here we have been wearing them anywhere public since March 2020.

I live in a regional area of NSW, Australia where Omicron cases are doubling every day. Today was just under 500, yesterday was about 250. Today was also the day some mitigations were dropped - masks in shops, QR codes for contact tracers, etc. I have an uneasy feeling about the Christmas period. I haven't done my Christmas shopping yet - I'm CEV, and I admit I feel somewhat anxious about going shopping in the next few days.

Denmark here.

They’ve been vaccinating 5-12 years for a few weeks now. All over 40’s who had their 2nd jab at least 4 1/2 months ago have been offered the booster as of this week. Schools have been converted to online as of today (for the last few days before Christmas holidays and the first few days back until 4th Jan).

LFT and PCR are all free. You just turn up to queue for a LFT but have to book a time slot for the PCR. There are lots of test centres about the place so it’s all fairly straightforward. Face masks on public transport and in shops etc.

Numbers took a massive jump within one week recently, hence these measures.

@merryxmasmelodies, I'm in BC and PCRs are used regularly at the testing sites. How else do you think they are carrying out Covid testing here?

@EdwinsActsOfKindness

Denmark here.

They’ve been vaccinating 5-12 years for a few weeks now. All over 40’s who had their 2nd jab at least 4 1/2 months ago have been offered the booster as of this week. Schools have been converted to online as of today (for the last few days before Christmas holidays and the first few days back until 4th Jan).

LFT and PCR are all free. You just turn up to queue for a LFT but have to book a time slot for the PCR. There are lots of test centres about the place so it’s all fairly straightforward. Face masks on public transport and in shops etc.

Numbers took a massive jump within one week recently, hence these measures.

Just to add: Wfh where possible. Masks in shops and on public transport. Nightlife closing at 12.

I work in a jobcenter and lots of my clients have been getting jobs as testers and vaccinators.

[quote gogohm]@madisonbridges

This is why we cannot compare our covid rates with most other countries, we test asymptomatic people routinely here. Also we sequence more pcrs than any other country[/quote]
Exactly, My blood boils when stupid Macron stars putting more restrictions to people from the U.K. because of COVID. I hope the French vote that man child out in the next elections.

Switzerland here. Canton Genève.

Masks have pretty much been mandatory indoors the entire time. Anywhere you need a vaccine pass (restaurants, theatre, etc.). Also mandatory on public transport. Outdoor mask wearing was dropped in the summer but we may be heading back that way. I still wear one in the city. Max 30 people at private indoor gatherings, 50 outdoors.

WFH where possible and the extension for border workers (who usually have to work in CH 75% of the time) has been extended to March 2022 so I can wfh 100% of my time.

Booster shots are widely available after 6 months. DH has his on Friday, mine is booked for 12th of January. Both had Moderna vax and will have Moderna booster.

Currently Omicron is making up about 2.5% of all cases, the rest is Delta.

I’m in Germany. Over 18s can book their booster if 5 months have passed from 2nd dose. Over 12s were already given 2 doses in summer, so secondary schools haven’t had massive outbreaks. 5-11 year olds start being vaccinated today.

There isn’t a ‘lockdown for unvaccinated’. They just can’t access indoor venues that require a vaccine or recovery pass. That includes restaurants, theatres, shopping centres, sport events… but they are free to go to work, school, meet with others (no more than 2 households).

FFP2 or medical masks compulsory everywhere indoors, and heavily enforced. If you’re exempt you need a letter from your doctor. On public transport you now also need a vaccine or recovery pass, or a negative test not older than 24h. You can’t do these tests at home, so the unvaccinated who use the bus or the train need to go to a testing centre every day. If you can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons you are given an exemption letter.

At my workplace we get weekly PCRs. There is not such a high reliance on LFTs, although you can buy them quite cheaply at the supermarket. Everyone does PCRs including if you’ve been a contact, have symptoms - not just the main 3 - or your workplace asks you too.

My university now scan your Covid pass every time you go into the building. Or you show a negative test to the receptionist. You simply can’t go in otherwise. My workplace know who’s vaccinated and who isn’t, if you aren’t then daily negative test - from an official testing centre - required every day at the door.

I’m in South Australia. Omicron for my state coincided with opening borders to NSW and Victoria which have most of Australia’s cases. Our Chief Health Officer wanted to close state borders again but was overruled.

Initially, vaccinated people had to quarantine for 14 days after being a close contact of a confirmed or suspected Omicron case. Now it’s changed to 7 days for all close, vaccinated contacts.

Boosters are being encouraged but not to the same extent as the UK. Boosters previously available 6 months after vaccination but that has been brought forward to 5 months. I’m pretty critical of some of the Covid government policies but I’m getting the booster next week. I’m mid 40’s and not particularly vulnerable but have older relatives and want to do my bit to try and keep things open.

There seems to be a bit of an air of resignation about Omicron here after some I goal anxiety (my state as well as Australia in general). It’s summer, we have high rates of vaccination and have started boosters and it’s unlikely the people would comply with lockdowns now as they would have to be pretty strict to have impact on Omicron.

@chatw0o0

Am in Australia (NSW). Booster jabs are available at the 6-month mark, or at 5-months for over-50s and vulnerable groups.

Today, NSW are free to come and go without masks, or checking in! This is the first time since end June. Still need masks where we cannot socially distance, and also on public transport, flights etc. Checking in is required at certain venues still but not everywhere.
It's worth noting there's no national approach, each state is doing their own thing (a bit like NI, England, Scotland, Wales approach I suppose).

Unsure if this will continue, or will be curtailed due to Omicron. Time will tell I'm sure.

Boosters are now available for everyone after 5 months in Australia. It just changed this week.

It’s all just exhausting isn’t it? All we can hope is that Omicron really is less serious and we’ll eventually get out of this pandemic mode (don’t think Covid will ever go away.)