To give travelers in Europe a better overview of coronavirus infections and restrictions, the European Union has introduced a traffic light system with color-coded zones based on risk levels: Green, yellow and red.
There is also a gray zone for regions where there is insufficient data.
How is each region assigned a traffic light?
The rate of new infections, or incidence,per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous 14 days and the rate of positive COVID-19 tests decidewhichcolor is attributed to a given region.
- Green is for regions reporting less than25 new infectionsper 100,000 inhabitants, and test positivity is below 4%
- Orange is for regions reporting less than50 new infections, and test positivity is over 4% —or the incidence is between 25 and 150 and test positivity is below 4%
- Red is for regions with more than 50 new infectionsper 100,000 incidents, and test positivity is over 4% — or theincidence is over 150 per 100,000 in the past 14 days
Advertisem*nt
Where is the information updated?
The European Centerfor Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in Stockholm on Friday will publish a map of the EUon its websitethat highlights which color isdesignated to a given region.
The site already offersan overview ofthe travel regulations for each of the EU's 27 member states.
So far, each EU member state has determined risk zones according to its own discretion. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this approach created a patchwork that was difficult to decipher.
"It'shard to know where you can travel, what rules you need to follow when you get there, and what rules apply when you get home," she said.
"We have to coordinate these measures to make life easier for Europeans."
Germany's top institute for infectious diseases, the Robert Koch Institute, which has been instrumental in determining the German government's coronavirus policy, will adjust its measures for declaring regions as risk zones.
So far, the agencyhas been using 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the past seven days as its benchmark so far — and not the now-prescribed 14 days.
Lithuania, for its part, wouldneed to change its benchmark from 25 new infections per 100,000 inhabitantsto 50 new infections.
Coronavirus: Restrictions tighten as Europe battles second wave
Countries across Europe are seeing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases after slowing outbreaks. Governments are eyeing restrictions that curb the spread of the virus whilst avoiding lockdowns in a bid to protect businesses.
Image: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images
Germany extends list of cities under coronavirus clampdown
Munich became the latest major city to exceed Germany’s key coronavirus threshold. In the capital Berlin, authorities have implemented a nighttime curfew — the first in 70 years — in response to a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases. All Berlin businesses are required to close by 11 p.m. at least until the end of October. The number of people allowed to meet outside at night is limited to five.
Image: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
The Czech Republic weighs national lockdown
The Czech Republic, previously hailed for its COVID-19 response, is now teetering on the brink of a second lockdown. A state of emergency has been in force since October 5. Face masks are compulsory and churches — where singing is prohibited — are limited to 10 people. Shopping centers have been instructed to switch off Wi-Fi to put off young people from gathering.
Image: Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images
Spanish government granted exceptional powers
Spain’s Cabinet has ordered a 15-day state of emergency in Madrid to combat the rising number of coronavirus cases. The move allowed the government to enforce quarantine measures across the country, prompting protests. The measure came after the Madrid regional government had rejected calls from the national government to enforce stricter measures to control the epidemic.
Image: SOPA Images/ZUMA Wire/picture-alliance
Police go undercover in France to enforce restrictions
Bars in Paris remain closed after a sharp increase in coronavirus cases. Two additional cities, Toulouse and Montpellier, have raised their alert to the maximum level. On Saturday, France recorded nearly 27,000 cases — its highest daily tally since the outbreak. In Paris and its suburbs, police carried out checks to ensure bars were closed and restaurants were ensuring social distancing.
Image: Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
Despite surge in cases, schools remain open in Poland
Poland has rolled out new measures to curb the pandemic after reporting record infections for a fifth straight day, but schools remain open. People aged between 60 and 65 have special shopping hours every morning from 10 a.m. to noon. Wearing of masks in public is now mandated for everyone all the time. The country of 38 million has so far recorded 121,638 confirmed cases and 2,972 deaths.
Image: Reuters/K. Pempel
Slovakia: No more than 6 can gather
In Slovakia, a maximum of six people can gather as of 13 October, though family members are an exception. Face masks are compulsory and all public events are banned, including religious services in churches. Fitness and wellness centers are shut, while restaurants are prohibited from serving meals indoors. This September 30 photo shows hockey fans in Bratislava protesting coronavirus measures.
Image: Pavel Neubauer/dpa/picture-alliance
Three-tier alert system goes live in England
The government has introduced a three-tiered alert system for coronavirus cases in England. The new system classifies all areas as either "medium", "high" or "very high" risk. Liverpool, in northwest England, is expected to be in the highest tier, which will see restrictions tightened, such as closing gyms, pubs, and casinos.
Image: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images
7 images
Criticism over new traffic light system
Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn criticized the figure of 50 per 100,000 inhabitants, saying this was a German invention and that it was simply what Germany's health authorities could deal with when tracing the chains of infection within the country.
Luxembourg's top envoysaidhis country had introduced comprehensive testing from the very beginning and was investigating all cases and, due to the rise in confirmed cases,had therefore been declared a risk zone. The diplomat, who also heads Luxembourg's European affairs,abstained from voting on the new system after saying his country was being "punished" for large-scale testing.
Luxembourg is indeed leading Europe in testing, with over 6,000 tests per 100,000 inhabitants. Germany is well behind — with 1,300 tests. Bulgaria, where Germany has categorized only two districtsas a risk area,is trailing at 380.
Germany has labeled all of Luxembourg a risk area since 25 September, the second time the country has been categorized as such since July.
Read more:Germany extends list of cities under coronavirus clampdown
Austria's EU minister, Karoline Edtstadler, criticized the new criteria as inaccurate, noting that "most regions in Europe are red."
"We have to be able to assess the risk better and also maintain freedom of movement and goods at the same time," she added.
Austria is particularly worried that winter tourism in the Alps will suffer if new risk zones are constantly being declared.
Right now, 19 of the 27 EU states have an incidence of over 50 per 100,000 inhabitants during the past 14 days. Twelve countrieshave a test positivity rate of over 4%.
Germany, for its part, has an incidence of 34 and 1.4% test positivity rate — soat the time of writing it would be labeled anorange zone.But the situation is starkly different when one looks at the rates in major cities and regions in Germany, including Berlin.
The only EU state what would be categorized as "green"is Finland.
The EU's coronavirus traffic light system is, in the end, only a recommendation — meaning EU countries are not legally required to implement or enforce the system.Member states will still be able to decide whether to implement recommended measures. So, they will be able to introduce quarantine and tests for travelers if they like, but they will not be compelled to. Nor will the EU guidelines override national regulations. Therefore, in Germany, it could be that the existing regulations in various federal states are maintained as such.
Read more:Lancet coronavirus study explores risk of reinfection
Each EU state decides its own regulations
For the moment, it is also not clear whether the EU will introduce uniform rules on the length of quarantine, on whether people should wear masks, on requirements regarding distancing, on alcohol bans, on restrictions of sporting activities, school closures, and further measures. Germany's Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth, however, said this was "a first step, which of course must be followed by others."
Regardless of the traffic light system debate, EU states continued to impose their own new restrictions this week. Schools were closed down in the Czech Republic, for instance, and the Netherlands announced a ban on the sale of alcohol in the evening and closed down bars and restaurants across the country.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, addressingthe Council of Regions in Brussels via video link, cautioned againstanother lockdown. "We have to show that we have learned our lesson."
"We have to ask the people of Europe to be careful, to follow the rules, to keep their distance, to cover their mouths and noses and to do what they can to contain the virus while still maintaining economic activity."
