S
peaking in a nationwide TV
address, France’s president
Emmanuel Macron said under
the new measures Europe’s
borders will close from Tuesday for a
period of 30 days due to the coro-
navirus outbreak. He said all travel
between non European countries and
EU nations was being suspended.
Family members of EU nationals
and diplomats would be exempt from
the measures as well as healthcare
workers and people transporting
goods.
The Schengen Free-travel-zone
agreement allows people to move
freely between EU countries with-
out border checks. Citizens of
non-Schengen EU member states
were also being invited to apply the
travel ban.
In London, the government
announced on Tuesday that Britons
should avoid all non-essential travel
to tackle the spread of the corona-
virus. The Foreign Secretary urged
British people abroad to immediately
return to the United Kingdom.
Earlier, France had announced that
a nationwide lockdown restricting
people’s movements was coming into
effect on Tuesday. Under the new
restrictions, people across France
have been ordered to stay at home for
at least 15 days and only go out for
essential reasons.
President Macron said the previ-
ous measures, including the closing
of schools, cafes and non-essen-
tial shops, had proved insufficient
because many people were ignoring
the advice about social distancing and
getting together in parks, bars and
restaurants.
The lockdown in France comes
on the heels of similar lockdowns
in Spain and in Italy which is at the
epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak
in Europe.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela
Merkel has banned religious services
and announced that virtually all public
venues will be closed. Restaurants can
stay open but will have to enforce a
minimum distance between tables.
Schools across the country have al-
ready been closed. Sweden announced
earlier it was closing all high schools
and universities from Wednesday.
At a meeting on Monday, Euro zone
finance ministers pledged an “unlimit-
ed” commitment to fight the economic
fallout of the coronavirus pandemic
which has sent stock markets plunging
across the world. The Ministers said
they would do whatever it takes and
more to restore confidence and a rapid
recovery.
