Filenews 25 January 2021
The addition of another colour, the 'dark red' to the map of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) for those areas where the virus is circulating at high levels, and the adoption of stricter measures for travellers from higher risk areas is being taken by the EU, updating a previous Council recommendation.
In view of the new, more contagious strains of coronavirus and the high number of new infections in many Member States, the Commission recommends measures to restrict travel, while avoiding border closures or general travel bans and ensuring that the functioning of the single market and supply chains is not interrupted.
The Commission proposal provides for additional coordination in two areas where Member States have already agreed to cooperate:
– Update the agreed colour code for mapping risk areas. Stricter measures applied to travellers from higher risk areas.
Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said that "The agreement in October on a coordinated EU approach to travel restrictions was a major step forward in our efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, while maintaining essential travel and the functioning of the single market. The common charter and a common approach to proportionate and non-discriminatory restrictions must guide our efforts. What we need now in view of the new changes is even greater coordination and a joint European effort to discourage non-essential travel. Closing borders will not help, common measures will help." The new measures were also mentioned in a tweet by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
• Update to the common color code
In addition to the existing colours green, orange, red and grey, the Commission proposes the addition of 'dark red' to indicate areas where the virus is circulating at very high levels. This will apply to an area where the 14-day notification rate exceeds 500 per 100,000 people.
• The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will continue to publish map updates based on data provided by Member States. ECDC maps and info
• Stricter measures for travellers from higher risk areas
In line with the Commission communication of 19 January on the actions needed to avoid a third wave, the Commission proposes to discourage all unnecessary travel until the epidemiological situation improves significantly. This is particularly concerning for travel to and from 'dark red' areas. When doing so, Member States should ensure consistency with the measures they apply for travel within their territory.
For persons travelling from a 'dark red' area, Member States should ask them to:
-To be tested prior to arrival
-and be quarantined as recommended by the Health Safety Committee and is currently implemented by several Member States.
As test capacity has increased, Member States could make greater use of pre-departure tests also for areas currently mapped as 'orange', 'red' or 'grey'. Persons returning to their Member State of residence should be able to take tests after arrival.
In view of the risks associated with a very large number of new infections, the Commission recommends, on the basis of ECDC guidelines, that Member States agree to adopt, maintain or strengthen non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as stay at home and temporary closure of certain enterprises, in particular in areas classified as 'dark red', strengthening testing and detection and increasing the monitoring and tracing of COVID-19 cases to collect information on the spread of new , more infectious mutations of the coronae
People living in border areas should be exempted from some of the travel restrictions. If they often need to cross the border, for example for family or work reasons, they should not be quarantined and the frequency of the required tests should be proportional. If the epidemiological situation on both sides of the border is similar, no test requirement should be imposed.
Member States should also try to avoid disruptions to basic travel, in particular in order to maintain transport flows in accordance with the 'green lane' system and to avoid supply chain disruptions. Given the increased risk, necessary travellers such as healthcare workers, persons travelling for urgent family or professional reasons arriving from 'dark red' areas should also be tested and quarantined, provided that this does not have a disproportionate impact on the exercise of the basic function or need.
Source: news.in.gr
