EU to hold video summit to assess new virus restrictions

Worried that new coronavirus variants could result in ar surge of deaths across European Union and push hospitals to verge of collapse, 27-nation bloc's leers will hold a video summit Thursday to assess such measures as furr border restrictions, better tracking of mutations and improving coordination of lockdowns. highly contagious nature of variants is a major source of concern and has alrey led some EU countries to strengn restrictions by imposing stricter curfews and more stringent mask requirements on public transport and in shops.

In a bid to avoid ar wave of panic similar to one that saw unilateral border closures threaten flow of goods across bloc when coronavirus first hit continent last spring, European Commission has issued this week a series of recommendations “for a united front to beat COVID-19."

EU's executive arm believes that sanitary situation is at a critical point and urged member states to step up pace of vaccination, to ensure that at least 80% of those over 80 are vaccinated by March, and that 70% of ult population across bloc is protected by end of summer.

But since EU doesn't expect vaccines to be reily available before month of April, leers should in meantime find efficient ways to contain new variants. commission believes that better tracking virus' mutations with gemic sequencing, coupled with an increased use of rapid antigen tests, will be crucial. According to bloc's executive arm, several EU nations are testing under 1% of samples. It has proposed to “urgently" increase geme sequencing to at least 5% of positive test results and would ideally see that figure reach 10% to detect variants.

Portugal, which holds EU's rotating presidency, said that an agreement to “ensure a common approach to use and validation of rapid antigen tests as well as mutual recognition of COVID19 test results across Europe" has been found by all member states and will be approved by leers. coordination of lockdown measures seems trickier, with a myri of initiatives coming from members states. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that new border checks might be needed if y don’t coordinate.

“All countries must do this, and if a neighboring country doesn’t do this we can hardly protect ourselves against mutation, and n even tougher entry measures on our internal borders are unavoidable," Merkel’s chief of staff, Helge Braun, told ARD television. “Since everyone doesn’t want that, it’s important that we act toger w.”

In Belgium, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has proposed a temporary ban on nessential travel during February school break and will make a proposal to his counterparts to opt it across bloc. “It is important to be clear that this does t mean that we close borders," De Croo told local brocaster RTBF. “Essential travel must continue to take place (...) But n-essential travel, which we can do without w, such as tourism, clearly we can longer take that risk."

Discussions will also focus on disruption of vaccine deliveries after Pfizer last week anunced a temporary reduction that has affected all EU countries. EU has sealed six vaccine contracts for more than 2 billion doses, but only Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been approved for use so far. EU w expects Pfizer to deliver across EU 92% of what was expected over this week and next one. missing 8% is expected to be recovered during week of Feb. 15.

Leers will also weigh a Greek proposal to issue vaccination certificates to ease travel. But with doubts about wher people vaccinated could still be contagious, and only a small fraction of EU population alrey vaccinated, several member states have expressed reservations.

(Im Credit: AP)