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The German presidency of the EU Council called an emergency meeting of member states on Monday morning, based on the EU’s Integrated Crisis Response Mechanism (IPCR). The decision comes after a large increase in Covid-19 cases in the UK, and health professionals suspect it is a new mutation that makes the coronavirus up to 70% more contagious. The number of European countries imposing travel restrictions and closing air borders is growing, with France being the last to make this decision.
The IPCR aims to make swift and coordinated decisions at the EU level in the event of major and complex crises, according to Agerpres.
In preparation for this meeting, the cabinet of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, convened a video conference on technical issues on Sunday. At the meeting, representatives of “member states exchanged information on the measures they intend to take in the next few hours,” such as a ban on flights from the UK or new test measures, a community spokesman said.
There is no indication that the new strain of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is more lethal than the previous ones, but it is more contagious. According to the British government’s scientific advisor, Patrick Vallance, it appeared in mid-September in London or Kent, and is currently tending to become the “dominant” form in the UK and has led to a sharp increase in hospitalizations in December. so the maximum level of anti-epidemic restrictions was established in London and parts of England.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) did not rule out on Sunday the possibility that this new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is already circulating outside the UK and called on EU member states to take swift action, in particular to quickly identify and isolate people from affected areas and their contacts, and intensify testing.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said the same mutation was found in Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark and Australia.
States imposing restrictions
France
France will suspend all passenger movements from midnight, “including those related to the transport of goods by road, air, sea or rail from the UK” due to the new strain of the SARS-CoV coronavirus. 2 confirmed in this country, announced the French government, transmits AFP.
These restrictions imposed by France are currently valid for 48 hours, “to allow time for coordination” at the EU level in order to establish a common approach to measures for the flow of passengers and goods from the UK to Ireland. North, states the French government in a note. Transport from France to the UK is still allowed.
Belgium
Belgium suspends UK flights and trains from midnight. Prime Minister Alexander de Croo told VRT television that the restriction would be imposed for at least 24 hours as a “precautionary measure”, adding that “we will see later if further measures are needed,” according to the BBC.
Italy
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Facebook that his government would sign an order banning flights from the UK. In Italy, a first case of infection with the new coronavirus strain discovered in the Kingdom has been confirmed.
Ireland
Urgent talks were held in Ireland on Sunday. In a subsequent statement, the executive announced that flights from the UK would be banned for at least 48 hours from midnight, and “in the interest of public health, people in Britain, regardless of nationality, should not travel in Ireland, neither by air nor by sea. ” The freight ferry crossings will continue.
Germany
In Germany, an order from the Ministry of Transport stated that planes from the United Kingdom could not land after midnight, although the transport of goods would be an exception. Health Minister Jens Spahn said the new viral variant in the UK had yet to be detected in Germany.
A German Health Ministry official told AFP that the government is also considering stopping flights from South Africa, where the viral mutation was also detected.
Austria
Austria was planning to ban flights from the island state, and the details are currently being processed, according to local media.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria has suspended flights to and from the UK since midnight, but compared to short-term measures put in place by other European countries, its ban lasts until January 31.
Netherlands
The Hague government suspended all passenger flights from the UK on Sunday until January 1, following the discovery in the Netherlands of a case of contamination with the new strain of COVID-19 identified in the UK.
The Dutch Ministry of Health “recommends that any introduction of this variant of the virus from the UK be limited as much as possible by limiting and / or controlling the movement of passengers from the UK.”
Israel
Outside of Europe, Israel has announced that anyone traveling from the UK must be quarantined for two weeks at a hotel in the Middle Eastern state.
Spain
The Spanish Foreign Minister, Arancha González, said that Spain wants a coordinated decision at the EU level in this regard.
Editing: Alexandru Costea
