Brussels
The European Union has urged Saturday member states to implement health screening at their borders to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Increasing concern about the spread of the illness, also known as Covid-19, has tested one of the core principles of the EU — freedom of movement — with countries bordering Italy restricting traffic from outside.
Several other EU nations have also brought in restrictions which go beyond travellers from Italy, which has seen the most virus cases and deaths outside China. The EU’s executive commission recommended co-ordinated border health screenings as a way to address infections.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: “We’ve seen travel bans and controls being put in place in a number of member states. “Certain controls may be justified, but general travel bans are not seen as being the most effective by the World Health Organisation. Moreover, they have a strong social and economic impact. They disrupt people’s lives and business across the borders.”
To avoid a patchwork of national policies that cause economic harm and are ineffective in guarding public health, “any measure that is taken must be proportionate” and co-ordinated with Brussels, she said.
Nevertheless, a number of countries have already increased restrictions. Poland’s prime minister opted to close the country’s borders with all its neighbours and all foreigners are denied entry unless they live in Poland or have personal ties there. Slovakia has taken similar action, and Denmark closed all its land, sea and air borders on Saturday. Travellers will be turned away at the border unless they can show that they have “a legitimate reason” to be there. —AP
