Thousands protest COVID curbs in Europe amid omicron surge | Deutsche Welle [stress added]:
January 10, 2022 - "Vaccine skeptics and others angered by COVID curbs have protested in Brussels, Prague and other European cities. Omicron is driving up cases across the EU, with experts warning unvaccinated people are especially at risk. Thousands of people took part in demonstrations against coronavirus restrictions on Sunday in Belgium and the Czech Republic, while cities in Germany and Vienna saw renewed protests on Saturday. Weekend demonstrations have continued across the European Union as governments move to implement tighter curbs and new rules....
"An estimated 5,000 people turned out for a protest in the Belgian capital, Brussels, on Sunday. Protesters carried banners decrying what they said was a 'vaccine dictatorship' and voicing anger over Belgium's COVID pass requirement to enter restaurants, bars and other cultural events. The protest on Sunday was smaller and less violent than previous anti-COVID demonstrations in Brussels. Eleven people were detained ahead of the march for carrying fireworks, while another 30 people were arrested at the end of the demonstration after a group threw 'projectiles' at police....
"In Prague, thousands of people demonstrated on Sunday against a proposal to make COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for certain age groups and professions. Many in the crowd carried Czech flags while marching through the capital, voicing opposition to COVID vaccines, while others chanted: 'Freedom, freedom.'
"The Czech government is considering a measure that would make it mandatory for people over the age of 60 to get a COVID vaccine, as well as compulsory vaccination for medical staff, medical students, police officers and firefighters. The compulsory vaccination policy was ordered in early December by the government ... later replaced by a new, five-party coalition.... The new government is now considering scrapping the mandate for the over-60 age group....
"Numerous German cities saw protests against COVID curbs on Saturday, including demonstrations in Hamburg,Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Koblenz. In the northern port city of Hamburg, over 13,000 people took part in the demonstrations, with some voicing anger over a recently passed vaccine mandate for people working in hospitals and nursing homes. Many of the protests are organized by people in the so-called Querdenker (Lateral Thinker) scene — a protest movement that emerged during the COVID crisis that largely opposes COVID vaccines and restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.
"Several cities in Germany also saw counterprotests as well on Saturday. In the western city of Minden, some 2,500 people formed a human chain in solidarity with a local politician whose home was targeted by a group of anti-COVID protesters. In the eastern city of Dresden, over 3,500 people took part in a silent protest against ... anti-COVID and anti-vaccine demonstrations in the region....
"The Austrian capital of Vienna saw another weekend of mass protests against the government's coronavirus restrictions. On Saturday, some 40,000 people demonstrated against the government's plans to implement a general COVID vaccine mandate ... set to take effect on February 1."
Read more: https://www.dw.com/en/thousands-protest-covid-curbs-in-europe-amid-omicron-surge/a-60374676
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