The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) today issued new guidance to help protect children and schools from transmission of the COVID-19 virus. The guidance provides critical considerations and practical checklists to keep schools safe. It also advises national and local authorities on how to adapt and […]
Read MoreCoronavirus: Further preventive measures introduced in Council
The Secretary-General of the Council, having consulted the Presidency, has decided on a number of new preventative measures which take into account latest developments in the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as updated expert medical advice. The measures have been communicated to member state delegates and others who are affected by them. The […]
Read MorePresident Michel and President von der Leyen on the response to the COVID-19 outbreak
President Michel and President von der Leyen brief the press on the meeting via video conference between EU leaders. During the video conference on 10 March 2020 we emphasised the need to work together and to do everything necessary and to act swiftly. They stressed the need for a joint European approach and a […]
Read MoreCoronavirus: MEPs call for solidarity among EU member states
Parliament discussed the COVID-19 outbreak with the Commission and the Croatian presidency on Tuesday, underlining the need to slow down the spread across Europe. Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said COVID-19 was a public health emergency that is changing by the hour. Member states must focus on containing the virus […]
Read MoreThe NHS Inter-Territorial Council agrees on specific measures for areas with significant community transmission of coronavirus
The Inter-Territorial Council of the National Health System, of which the Ministry of Health and the Autonomous Regions are members, has agreed on a package of measures for areas that are in a significant community transmission stage. At the moment only the Community of Madrid, the city of Vitoria and the town of Labastida are […]
Read MoreEDA Statement: COVID-19 Update
The European Defence Agency (EDA) confirms that two additional staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. Both staff members have been at home in self-isolation since 2 March and have thus not returned to the Agency since symptoms appeared. Given that both staff members had been in close contact with the first staff member who […]
Read MoreAntimicrobial resistance in the EU: infections with foodborne bacteria becoming harder to treat
The latest data from humans, animals, and food show that a large proportion of Salmonella bacteria are multidrug-resistant. In humans, resistance to ciprofloxacin is common, particularly in certain types of Salmonella, and resistance to high concentrations of ciprofloxacin increased overall from 1.7% (2016) to 4.6% (2018). For Campylobacter, 16 out of 19 countries report very high or extremely high […]
Read MoreECB announces operational precautions linked to coronavirus
All non-essential travel by ECB Executive Board and staff members restricted until 20 April 2020 Conferences at the ECB postponed, with exception of monetary policy press conferences All non-essential visits including visitor group programme suspended The Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB) today announced a range of operational measures that it is taking […]
Read MoreCOVID-19: Commission steps up research funding and selects 17 projects in vaccine development, treatment and diagnostics
Following the publication of a €10 million call in January, the Commission has secured an additional €37.5 million for urgently needed research on COVID-19 vaccine development, treatment and diagnostics. This action is part of the coordinated EU response to the public health threat of COVID-19. With the additional amount from the Horizon 2020 programme, the Commission is scaling up […]
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