Communication on additional COVID-19 response measures

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 28 October 2020, setting out additional action to help limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) across the European Union (EU).

Further information:

These measures aim to better understand the virus' spread and the effectiveness of the response, ramp up well-targeted testing, bolster contact tracing, improve preparations for vaccination campaigns, and maintain access to essential supplies such as vaccination equipment, while keeping all goods moving in the single market and facilitating safe travel.

The Communication on additional COVID-19 response measures sets out steps in key areas to reinforce the EU's response to the resurgence in COVID-19 cases:

• Improving the flow of information to allow informed decision-making;
• Establishing more effective and rapid testing;
• Making full use of contact tracing and warning apps across borders;
• Effective vaccination;
• Effective communication to citizens;
• Securing essential supplies;
• Facilitating safe travel;
• Green Lanes extension.

Official

European Commission: Press Release, 28/10/2020: Coronavirus resurgence: Commission steps up action to reinforce preparedness and response measures across the EU https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1986

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Peter Piot, Special Advisor to the President, on additional measures for the EU's response to coronavirus (28 October 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_20_1997

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News

Deutsche Welle, 28/10/2020: European Commission: EU faces a long coronavirus pandemic https://p.dw.com/p/3kZbc

The Brussels Times, 28/10/2020: European Commission launches new measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/eu-affairs/138050/european-commission-new-measures-limit-spread-coronavirus-rise-covid-19-infection-rates-europe-stella-kyriakides-member-states-ecdc/

The Guardian, 28/10/2020: EU leaders urged to aid transfer of Covid patients between member states https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/28/eu-leaders-urged-to-work-together-as-covid-cases-rise-in-all-member-states

Reuters, 28/10/2020: Back to crisis mode, EU moves to avoid COVID shortages, ease trade https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN27D1NE

EUObserver, 29/10/2020: EU Commission's Covid-19 expert offers bleak outlook https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/149901

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