Britons could be barred from traveling to the EU until they have been fully vaccinated for Covid.
The plans would have an impact on any foreign tourist visiting the bloc. Instead of allowing travel to be dependent upon the status of the traveller’s vaccination, the “white list” of countries that are approved would be eliminated.
A full jab with an EU approved vaccine, which includes AstraZeneca/Pfizer, would allow them to travel free of restrictions if their last dose is within the last nine month. A booster shot would be required for those with expired jabs.
Bloomberg reports that children, adults who are healthy, and people traveling for medical reasons, as well as those who were vaccinated by WHO, would be permitted to travel. However, they may need to undergo a pre-departure PCR test.
These rules will be gradually implemented and fully in place by March. These same rules will then be extended to EU citizens who travel within the bloc starting next summer.
The detailed plans will be released later today and each state can decide whether or not to implement them.
The outbreak comes at a time when the continent is trying to manage a rising tide of Covid-related infections. Its leaders are targeting those who have not been vaccinated and taking the toughest actions.
The bloc is considering new Covid travel rules that could ban unjabbed Britons from traveling into the EU starting March 2013. (file image).
Brussels has begun to consider harsher travel restrictions as Europe suffers from a Covid winter that has seen the number of virus deaths spike.
European leaders are rushing to enforce lockdowns, and take the most severe measures against those who have not been vaccinated. Covid cases have reached all-time highs across many EU countries.
While the European Commission is trying to harmonize rules between the 27 EU countries to permit free movement (a cornerstone in the European Union), it faces new limitations as records are broken and vaccination drives continue to be criticized.
The EU government, which must approve the Commission’s recommendation, began debate about the subject on Tuesday.
Greece proposed that future travelers should not be restricted if they’ve received medication in the previous six months.
A senior EU official stated to Reuters that while immunity does wane over time, the executive Commission proposes that patients be covered if the most recent dose occurred within the last nine month.
Most EU citizens who had been vaccinated in 2021 received their last doses during the second quarter and third quarters. This means that their coverage will most likely end by next year.
On Wednesday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control recommended booster vaccines for adults. Priority was given to those aged 40 and over. This is a significant shift from previous guidelines that suggested additional doses for people with weak immune systems and older persons.
EU coordination of COVID passes has led to an easement in cross-border travel restrictions. This is because it shows if the holder has been fully vaccinated, or has had a negative test, or that they have recovered from infection.
These passes can be viewed using mobile devices. They are usually issued by specific countries but recognized across the bloc. These passes are increasingly used in EU countries to gain access to theatres and restaurants indoors.
You can also find other European countries today…
- Germany has passed 100,000 Covid deaths. Infections also reached a new record in Germany. There are rising fears about a Christmas lockdown.
- Europe’s combined death toll since the start of the pandemic hit 1.5 million
- Italy banned unvaccinated residents from indoor hospitality business as it tightened rules about its health pass system.
- Slovakia returned to total lockdown. Non-essential shops were shut down and residents were forbidden from leaving the country except to get to work or in an emergency.
- Denmark proposed mandatory face masks for public transport in Denmark and requested that the Health Committee approve this law.
- Hospitals in the Netherlands began cancelling chemotherapy treatment and organ transplants to free up intensive care beds for Covid patients
Germany not only passed the 100,000 death mark but also established a new record in Covid cases, with nearly 76,000 infections recorded within 24 hours.
The hospitals warn that there are almost 4,000 COVID-19-infected patients in intensive care. Some hospitals located in the south and east of the country have been transferring patients to different regions.
The surge has prompted Germany’s government-in-waiting to announce the creation of a new permanent expert group to advise officials on how to tackle the pandemic.
Current government encourages people who had been vaccinated over six months ago to continue to receive boosters and urges those who have not yet received their shots to do so.
To drive up rates, many regional leaders have begun to tighten restrictions on those who are not vaccinated.
Officials state that 68% are fully vaccinated in Germany, which is slightly more than the European average at 67% but much lower than the 75% government had hoped to achieve.
Anyone who was not jabbed in the last nine months or hasn’t had a jab since then will be banned. Unless they are able to get a booster shot, (file image).
Italy announced Wednesday new rules to tighten its ‘green pass’ system for indoor access. It has been vaccinated approximately 73% of its people.
To be allowed to bars, nightclubs, cinemas, and restaurants under the old system, one had to prove that they were vaccinated against Covid, have a negative result, or show proof of previous infections.
However, the rules will no longer allow for evidence of previous infections or vaccines. Workplaces will be exempt from the rules, but staff will have to test negative once every 48 hours at a cost of £12.60 per test.
Mario Draghi, Prime Minister of Italy, stated that the measures were needed to “save Christmas” and avoid a complete lockdown.
Meanwhile Slovakia’s Prime Minister Eduard Heger announced a two-week lockdown of the entire country starting on Thursday after infections soared to record levels.
Slovaks cannot leave their home now, except to purchase food or travel to school or work.
Within 500 meters of your home, you can exercise daily and take your dog for a walk.
Companies were advised that employees must be able to work at home, and unvaccinated staff who can’t stay home are required to undergo regular tests for the virus.
Regular testing will be conducted on schoolchildren, who will need to use masks when entering schools.
Heger called the measures “inevitable”, and claimed that its success would be dependent on every citizen.
Elsewhere, the Dutch Hospital Association for Critical Care said some emergency treatments such as chemotherapy and organ transplants are being cancelled or delayed to free up intensive care beds for Covid patients.
A request has been made to the health minister for him or her to make it possible that overnight stays are cancelled in order that there is more room. This comes amid fears that hospitals could be overcrowded within a week.
These new measures aim to prevent future Covid waves. As cases rose, Slovakia was put back in full lockdown.
On Wednesday night ministers met to discuss the quickly worsening crisis. New lockdown measures are likely to be announced on Friday.
The Dutch government ended most social distancing measures by September end and this month reinstated mask-wearing. Bars and restaurants were also forced to close at 8 pm.
There were three nights of protests that began Friday night, when more than 170 people across the country were detained for attempting to block access to some public spaces from people who had been vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to the EU’s chief economic officer, Wednesday’s massive rise in COVID-19-related cases is hampering the recovery of the European Union from last year’s deep economic recession.
Experts warn that public health could worsen.
Two weeks ago, the EU executive increased its growth forecast to an economy that is recovering from the effects of the pandemic.
On Wednesday, however, EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni warned that this positive picture is now at risk due to increasing infections and the reintroduction of restrictions in more member countries.
There is a possibility that the fall in growth forecasts for the eurozone’s 19 member nations of 5% this year could be impacted by the virus crisis at the end.
Gentiloni stated, “Our only message was: Take this situation very seriously,” but not without considering that it will have the same economic consequences as one year ago.
Experts in medicine warned that there would be more suffering and advised for immediate measures to protect critical sectors such as the tourism, restaurant and bar industries.
Europe has seen protests and riots following the introduction of new lockdowns. Italy was the first to put restrictions on unvaccinated people today.
Denmark suggests bringing back compulsory facemasks despite facing protests from its citizens in the recent weeks
In a Wednesday report, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control stated that the impact of the contagious Delta variant found in India’s first case was expected to rise unless there is drastic government intervention and further vaccinations.
All of this goes against the expectations that were made for the holiday season. Originally, it was expected that Europeans without COVID-19 limitations would spend their forced savings from the previous year to help boost the economy.
ECDC has warned that the end of year festivities are traditionally associated with shopping, socializing, and traveling, which could increase Delta’s transmission.
Andrea Ammon, Director of ECDC spoke out about health systems being overloaded in certain EU countries and other nations being very close. “We need to act now to prevent transmission,” said Andrea Ammon, Director of ECDC.
This has in the past meant that businesses were closed down or locked out as a result of the economic crisis.
Ammon addressed everything, from remote work or mandatory mask wear to more intrusive measures like lockdowns.
Ammon added, “We still have time until Christmas.” “But, if things don’t improve, this might indicate that we should take these steps over Christmas.