Coronavirus: Europe closes borders for 30 days to contain pandemic

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced this Monday afternoon, March 16, that the European Union will prohibit foreigners from entering the territory for about 30 days.

The action is one of the preventive measures to pandemic of coronavirus, covers the 27 countries of the European Union and four belonging to the Schengen zone.

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 Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission (Photo: Johanna Geron – Reuters / Folha reproduction).

However, there are some exceptions for European citizens, residents and their immediate family members, diplomats, healthcare or transport professionals, scientists and emergency workers.

“To be effective, the restriction must be accompanied by all members of the Schengen zone (which includes non-European Union countries, such as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein)”, he highlighted Ursula.

As the United Kingdom is in a transition period post-Brexit, British citizens will not be affected by the restriction.

Some proposals from the European Commission must still be evaluated by the heads of government, until Tuesday, March 17th. Still according to Ursula, most of the countries were aware and agreed with the information during the weekend.

Another intention of the European Commission is to create express lines for the passage of cargo, called green lane, among the member states of the bloc.

Ursula's spokesperson, Eric Mamer, reported that long queues of trucks are forming on the roads, which leads to in the difficulty for food, medicine, health equipment and other objects to reach the factories, aggravating the situation.

In industry, the process is even more complicated, as production is carried out in the just in time, through low inventories, and any lapse in logistics disrupts the scenario.

Representatives of the 27 EU countries will hold a meeting by teleconference on the afternoon of Monday, March 16 to discuss details and preventive measures to combat the pandemic.

“The battle will be hard and long and will need everyone's help. Each citizen, individually, must obey the restrictions of their countries so that we can overcome the crisis”, highlighted the President of the European Council, after the meeting with Ursula and the G7 (Germany, Canada, United States, France, Italy, Japan and UK).

European barriers

Some measures are already being adopted by the countries, others will start on the continent. See what they are:

full quarantine

At total quarantine, citizens must leave their homes only for reasons deemed essential. This applies to the following countries:

  • Austria
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Lithuania

emergency state

At the emergency state the national government is allowed to concentrate powers temporarily, in the nations of:

  • Spain
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • Latvia
  • Poland
  • Czech republic
  • Switzerland

Closed borders

In some countries there will be total or partial restriction on entry, namely:

  • Germany
  • Cyprus
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Norway
  • Russia
  • Ukraine

Special border controls

To prevent the entry of contaminated people there will be special controls at the borders of:

  • Austria
  • Slovenia
  • Poland
  • Switzerland

self-isolation

In the following countries, there will be self-isolation for two weeks (14 days) for all foreigners entering:

  • Germany
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Cyprus
  • Greece
  • Netherlands
  • Malta
  • Norway
  • UK
  • Romania

closed schools

These are places where classes are suspended, see:

  • Albania
  • Germany
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Denmark
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Estonia
  • France
  • Greece
  • Netherlands
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • north macedonia
  • Malta
  • Moldavia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Czech republic
  • Russia
  • Switzerland
  • Türkiye
  • Ukraine

Restaurants, bars and shops closed

Some commercial establishments closed their doors, avoiding contact between people and crowds, in the regions of:

  • Albania
  • Germany
  • Belgium
  • Spain
  • France
  • Greece
  • Netherlands
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Czech republic
  • Russia
  • Switzerland
  • Türkiye

*With information from Folha.

Read too:

  • New Coronavirus – What it is, causes, symptoms, treatment, diagnosis
  • Could the spread of the new coronavirus hasten the end of globalization?
  • Coronavirus – 6 Myths and false tips about fighting COVID-19

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