Algeria
Egypt
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Palestine *
Syria *
TunisiaPress statement by President von der Leyen on the new COVID variant
“We are taking the news about the new highly mutated COVID-19 variant very seriously.
We do know that mutations could lead to the emergence and spread of even more concerning variants of the virus that could spread worldwide within a few months.
It is now important that all of us in Europe act very swiftly, decisively and united. The European Commission has today proposed to Member States to activate the ‘emergency brake’ on travel from countries in southern African and other countries affected to limit the spread of the new variant.
All air travel to these countries should be suspended. They should be suspended until we have a clear understanding about the danger posed by this new variant.
And travellers returning from this region should respect strict quarantine rules.
I have spoken about the situation today with scientists and vaccine manufacturers.
They, too, fully support such precautionary measures to avoid international spreading of the concerning variant.”
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Countries covered:
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Algeria
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Egypt
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Israel
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Jordan
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Lebanon
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Libya
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Morocco
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Palestine *
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Syria *
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Tunisia
