almost all of Europe, in red
The first published covid traffic light is already there. This Thursday, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has released the first European map, something it will do weekly, to provide guidance on measures to restrict free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was adopted by the EU member states on Tuesday.
The EU approves a covid traffic light to order travel from risk areas without agreeing on common restrictions
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The maps are based on data reported by Member States to the European Surveillance System (TESSy) database before 23:59 on every Tuesday, or made available to the ECDC from official sources.
The areas are marked with the following colors:
Green - If the 14-day notification rate is less than 25 cases per 100,000 and the test positivity rate is less than 4%. On the current map, good parts of Norway and Finland, as well as parts of southern Italy and Greece are marked green.
Orange: If the 14-day notification rate is less than 50 cases per 100,000 but the test positivity rate is 4% or higher or, if the 14-day notification rate is between 25 and 150 cases per 100,000 and the positivity rate of the test is below 4%. On the current map, it corresponds to regions of southern Portugal, almost all of Italy and half of Greece, as well as parts of Norway and Finland.
Red - If the 14-day notification rate is 50 cases per 100,000 or more and the test positivity rate is 4% or more; or if the 14-day notification rate is greater than 150 cases per 100,000. Most of Europe is in red.
Gray: if there is insufficient information or if the testing rate is less than 300 cases per 100,000. In this case, they are relevant countries, such as Germany or Sweden.
What the 27 did not do was agree on what measures to take with those who come from risk areas. And the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, lamented that upon arrival at the European summit in Brussels.
"I believe that we have taken some very important steps, such as the creation of a map of territorial dangers, of territorial risks in relation to the pandemic," Sánchez acknowledged. But he has also stated: "Spain would like to harmonize a European response in the mutual recognition of tests, in the field of quarantines and in the restriction of mobility".
Coordination for vaccines: vulnerable first
The European Commission has also requested coordination this Thursday from the 27 members of the European Union. The European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, has launched the axes of what should be the vaccination strategy.
Brussels calls on governments that the first to have vaccines are health workers, those over 60 years of age, citizens whose state of health puts them at risk, essential workers, people who cannot keep their distance physical and disadvantaged socioeconomic groups.
Brussels is now calling on countries to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are "easily and affordable to access", inviting them to equip themselves with trained services to administer them, including "skilled labor and medical and health equipment. protection".
