EU issues a European "roadmap" to lifting coronavirus containment measures

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has announced a European 'roadmap' to a co-ordinated lifting of COVID-19 containment measures amongst EU member countries.

"While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to a gradual, science-based and effective lifting of containment measures, a highly coordinated way forward is a matter of common European interest."

​Responding to the call of the European Council of 26 March, the Commission, in cooperation with the President of the European Council, has put forward a European roadmap towards lifting coronavirus containment measures. It takes into account the expertise of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control the Commission’s Advisory Panel on the coronavirus, experience of Member States and guidance from the World Health Organization. Evidently, any such reflection is based on the scientific knowledge available today, and should be revised as further evidence appears.

The fast evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant unknowns coming with a new virus and the disease it causes have led to unprecedented challenges for health care systems as well as to dramatic socio-economic impacts in Europe and the whole world. The crisis has already claimed thousands of lives and continues to put health care systems under enormous strain. Extraordinary and unprecedented measures – both economic and social – have been taken.
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All Member States have prohibited public gatherings, closed (totally or partially) schools and introduced border/travel restrictions. More than half of the EU’s Member States have proclaimed a state of emergency.

NEXT STEPS:

​​The following recommendations should guide Member States’ reflections on gradually lifting containment measures:

• Action will be gradual. Measures will be lifted step by step and sufficient time should pass between the steps (e.g. one month), as their effect can only be measured over time.
• General measures should progressively become targeted. This would allow gradually going back to normality, while continuing to protect the EU population from the virus. For example:

1. The most vulnerable groups should be protected for a longer time.
2. Diagnosed people should remain quarantined and treated adequately to decrease transmission risks.
3. Safe, targeted alternatives should replace existing general prohibitive measures.
4. General states of emergencies should gradually be replaced by more targeted interventions by governments. This would ensure the democratic accountability of the measures taken and a wide acceptance by the populations.

• The lifting of measures should start with those with a local impact and be gradually extended to measures with a broader geographic coverage, taking into account national specificities. This would allow for effective and tailored actions and the potentially swift redeployment of measures in case new infections occur.
• A phased approach to opening internal and external borders to allow for the flow of essential workers and goods.

1. Internal border controls should be lifted in a coordinated manner. Travel restrictions should first be eased between identified low-risk areas. Neighbouring Member States should stay in close contact to facilitate this.
2. In a second phase, external borders would reopen access for non-EU residents, taking into account the spread of the coronavirus outside the EU. Restrictions to non-essential travel to the EU must be continuously reviewed.

• Economic activity should be phased in to ensure that authorities and businesses can adequately adjust to increasing activities in a safe way. The whole population should not return to the workplace at the same time and social distancing should continue to apply. Teleworking should be encouraged. At the work place, occupational health and safety rules should be observed.
• Gatherings of people should progressively be permitted. When reflecting on the most appropriate sequencing, Member States should focus on the specificities of different categories of activity, such as:

1. Schools and universities.
2. Commercial activity (retail) with possible gradation.
3. Social activities (restaurants, cafés, sport centres) with possible gradation.
4. Mass gatherings.

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• Efforts to prevent the spread of the virus should be sustained, with awareness campaigns to encourage the population to keep up the strong hygiene practices and social distancing.
• Measures should be continuously monitored and a certain readiness should be developed, as there is a risk of a strong resurgence and a return to strict containment measures. This is particularly important for health care systems.

Communication: Joint European Roadmap Towards Lifting COVID-19 Containment Measures

Factsheet: A European roadmap to lifting coronavirus containment measures