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Belgium

Case rate: 958.46 per 100,000 (+50.84%)

Last week, Belgium said workers should work from home for four days a week, but the prime minister Alexander de Croo has said the priority is to keep society open.

“It’s not the same virus anymore. This is a mutation of the virus, which is much more infectious,” he said.

“Our goal will be to keep society open to make sure that our businesses remain open, to make sure that our schools remain open, to make sure that our hotels and restaurants and cafes remain open. But with additional protection.”

Belgium’s Covid Safe Ticket vaccine passport is required to enter bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the country.

France

Case rate: 334.08 per 100,000 (+204.87%)

Cases are on the rise in France. A pass sanitaire or NHS vaccination certificate is required to enter all restaurants, cafes and bars – even to sit outside. 

Last week, Emmanuel Macron poured cold water on the idea of a lockdown on unvaccinated people, saying that France would not need to follow its European neighbours in imposing lockdowns because of the success of the health pass.

From December 15, a third booster dose will be mandatory for over 65s (including British holidaymakers) to be considered fully vaccinated to enter indoor venues. The pass sanitaire is not currently compulsory to access ski lifts, although if the national rate exceeds 200 per 100,000 that will change. Masks will become mandatory on lifts, but not on the slopes, and restaurants and bars could impose capacity limits to curb any outbreaks. Children over 12 will need to either be fully vaccinated, or have evidence of a negative PCR test within 72 hours, in order to access the slopes.

French tourism minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne told The Telegraph: “Thanks to vaccinations and the health pass, closing is not an option. The season is shaping up to be exceptional and we are ready and raring to go.”

Italy

Case rate: 110.53 per 100,000 (+26.9%)

The latest Covid-19 wave seen across large parts of Europe has not yet impacted Italy in a significant way, although cases are on the rise. Last week the governors of five of Italy’s 20 regions said they were in favour of adopting the approach of locking down the non-vaccinated.

Masks are mandatory in all indoor public places, as well as on ski lifts. In some resorts, including Cervinia, enclosed gondolas are running at 50 per cent capacity to encourage social distancing.

Proof of vaccination (a ‘green pass’) is required for indoor dining and drinking in Italy, as well as to access ski lifts this winter. The green pass is not required for hotel stays.