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EU Proposes To Temporarily Close Its Borders in Schengen Areas to Foreign Arrivals Amid Covid-19 Pandemic

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The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Layen has proposed a 30-day restriction on travel into the 26-state Schengen Area to curb the Coronavirus.

The Schengen Area consists of 26 countries, 22 of them in the European Union, and four countries (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein) are associate members of the Schengen Area but are not members of the EU.

The UK and Ireland opted out of the Schengen Agreement, wanting to control their own borders and movement of people.

However, von der Leyen has said travel between the EU and the UK will be allowed under the plan, which will be finalized Tuesday.

The EU Commission team has outlined guidelines on border measures that propose:

  • Green light/fast lanes giving priority to essential transport to keep the mobility sector going and ensure economic continuity
  • Temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU (30 days)

Commission President Ms von der Layen said:

“Here in Europe we are heavily affected by coronavirus and we know that everything that reduces social interaction also reduces the speed of the spread of the virus.

“The less travel, the more we can contain the virus.

“Therefore, as I have just informed our G7 partners, I propose to the heads of state and governments, to introduce temporary restrictions on non-essential travel to the European Union.”

The latest information on global travel bans can be found here.


The NHS advises to:

Stay at home for 7 days if you have either:
  • A high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
  • A new, continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly
  • Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
  • You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.
  • Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home.
Phone 111 if:
  • You feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
  • Your condition gets worse
  • Your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

you can read more advice and information about the Coronavirus on the NHS website here.

About the author / 

Shawna Healey

I'm Shawna, 21, and Welsh studying Geography at MMU. I have varying interests and opinions but usually its all things feminism.

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