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EU leaders have evaluated tighter movement restrictions and more intensive testing of new Covid-19 strains amid concerns about the crisis among all member governments.
aoiseach Micheál Martin joined his 26 EU counterparts in an online leaders’ summit to discuss the trend across the continent in the high number of deaths and current rates of hospitalizations due to the virus.
Before the discussions, Martin said he supported further genome testing to identify new virus strains that may be more contagious. He also said that he will support all efforts by the EU to increase the launch of the vaccine.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in Berlin that she was concerned about the manifestations of the new Covid strain in the UK, Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Speaking after Germany renewed the restrictions, invoked last October, until at least February 14, he said the grand prize now was suppression of the virus through vaccination.
But in the meantime, there must be effective restrictions on the spread of Covid 19, which may include some form of border controls, including cross-border testing. “Extensive border controls would be a last resort for us too and we will try to avoid it. But neither can they be ruled out if someone has different ideas, “said the German Chancellor.
The Taoiseach spokesman said Ireland was prepared to consider all travel control measures. But it will insist that supply chains for food, medicine and other vital supplies must be maintained at all costs.
On genome testing, the EU Commission said the current rate of less than 1pc of samples was too low. This urgently needs to reach 5 percent, and ideally 10 percent sample tests for genomes.
The EU’s goal is to vaccinate 70% of the total population by summer, without specifying a month. Hopes were given a boost Thursday when Pfizer revealed that its vaccine production delay, signaled last week, will be much shorter than expected.
Brussels officials said they expected large-scale production at a plant in Belgium could resume starting next week with 100% of the promised doses. EU leaders also pointed to a move from Greece for “vaccination passports” to help restore air travel.
A major problem here is that scientists have yet to find out whether people who are vaccinated can transmit the virus to other people.
Online editors
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