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Coronavirus – mutation: Commission does not rule out Great Britain
What does the European Commission ask of the Member States about the alarm signaled by the coronavirus mutation?
At 5:00 Greek time, the ambassadors of the Commission meet to decide what will happen to the trips to and from Great Britain, where the coronavirus mutation has been identified, which has caused concern worldwide.
What the competent Commissioners said
Justice Commissioner Didier Reiner said: “Given the current uncertainties and in the light of the precautionary principle, Member States must take concerted action to discourage unnecessary travel between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Travel bans should not prevent thousands of EU and UK citizens from returning home. “While precautions are needed to limit the spread of the new variant of the virus with the current Recommendation, we ensure that the restrictions are coordinated and provide for the necessary exemptions for returning citizens and other key travelers.”
Home Affairs Commissioner Elva Johansson said: “Since March, the Commission has made firm recommendations on the control of internal and external borders to be followed by the Member States. This history allows us to deal with the evolving situation and the new challenges posed by the pandemic. In order to be effective, our actions must be coordinated and today we are facilitating the rapid action to deal with the new variant of the coronavirus, while ensuring that the necessary trips can be made “.
Transport Commissioner Antina Valean added: “With today’s recommendation we offer clarity to Member States on how to maintain connectivity and secure transport services following the discovery of the new strain of COVID. Within the EU, it is important that transport workers are exempted from any restrictive measures, such as quarantine and testing. “We must continue to keep supply chains intact, in line with our announcement of the green stripes.”
Until the end of December, the rules of free movement in the United Kingdom remain in force. This means that Member States must not first deny entry to persons traveling from the United Kingdom. After the end of the transitional period, the United Kingdom will be subject to the Council Recommendation on the temporary restriction of unnecessary travel to the EU and the possible lifting of this restriction.
The Commission recommends in detail to the Member States:
To apply the principles of the October Council Recommendation, on the coordination of restrictions on free movement.
In the light of the precautionary principle, all unnecessary travel to and from the United Kingdom should be discouraged. However, EU and UK citizens traveling to their Member State or country of residence, as well as third-country nationals enjoying EU free movement rights should be exempted from further temporary restrictions provided that they are tested or quarantine.
Travelers with essential function, for example medical staff, should be tested (RT-PCR or rapid antigen test within 72 hours of departure), but should not be quarantined while performing this basic function.
Transport personnel within the EU should be exempt from any travel restrictions across the border and from testing and quarantine requirements when traveling across borders to and from a ship, vehicle or aircraft. When a Member State, in the specific context of the situation between the EU and the United Kingdom and in the coming days, requires rapid antigen testing for transport workers, this should not lead to transport disruptions.
Passenger transit, especially for basic travel, should be facilitated without quarantine. Testing may be required, but authorities must report this requirement in advance or offer on-site testing. Given the need to ensure basic travel and transit at home, as described in the Recommendation, any ban on transport services, such as flight or train bans, should be lifted.
Cargo flows must continue uninterrupted, in accordance with the Green Lines and Air Freight Notice, in particular to ensure the timely delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, for example. Member States’ public health authorities should step up their efforts to sequence and analyze isolated viruses in a timely manner to quickly identify cases of the new variant. They should also promptly identify cases involving individuals who have traveled to or from the United Kingdom in the last 14 days or who are in close contact with confirmed cases to ensure proper follow-up (eg RT-PCR test, isolation, improved contact detection).
Source:- https://www.ethnos.gr/
