EU coronavirus outbreak: First case detected in Brussels institutions - site on lockdown
THE European Defence Agency (EDA) in Brussels has confirmed one of its employees has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), as the spread of the deadly disease continues to accelerate across the world.
Coronavirus: David Sassoli on EU Parliament cancellations
Following the positive coronavirus test, the EDA has taken the precautionary measure of cancelling all scheduled meeting at its premises until March 13. An email seen by EURACTIV, sent to the network of national Points of Contacts (POCs) that coordinates the agency’s work with European Union member states, said the precautionary decision was based on new guidance received by the EU inter-institutional medical board. The EDA has also cancelled all staff participation in external meetings until March 13, and will look to reschedule those events at a later date.
EURACTIV has reported a source speaking on condition on anonymity told them the senior EDA official who contracted coronavirus had returned from a trip to Italy last week - which has been heavily struck down by COVID-19.
The source added that while in Italy, the official had a meeting with around 30 officials from other EU institutions, which lasted four hours.
The EDA official began to feel ill on Saturday and then tested positive for coronavirus.
The source added a member of the military staff of the European External Action Service (EEAS) who attended the meeting has also started experiencing coronavirus symptoms, and has been tested.
Other participants of the meeting have since held other meetings or have travelled elsewhere, according to the EEAS source.
The EDA is the latest EU institution to enforce precautionary measures ,with several asking employees who have travelled to impacted areas throughout the world to self-isolate and work from home.
Tens of thousands of visitors will be told to steer clear of the institution’s offices in Brussels and Strasbourg until the end of the month.
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Over 100 seminars, events and other activities involving tourists and external visitors have been cancelled.
The plans were announced by EU Parliament President David Sassoli, who warned officials must adopt tougher rules to cut the risk of a coronavirus outbreak with some 700,000 people visiting the EU assembly’s buildings each year.
But the Italian chief has not cancelled any parliamentary activity, with next week’s plenary session in Strasbourg set to go-ahead.
He said: “We will limit the access of visitors to the Parliament. This measure derives from the fact that we are a very open institution by nature with 700,000 visitors per year.
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“Under the current circumstances, it is our responsibility to suspend these visits. In the same spirit, we will cancel 130 events such as exhibitions or external conferences planned for the next weeks on Parliament premises.”
He added: “We have a duty, which is that the Parliament must continue its legislative activity, and we want this to happen.
“The plenary will unfold properly.”
The latest precautionary measures from within the EU come after Parliament officials were told last week to self-isolate themselves if they have travelled to coronavirus-hit countries over the past two weeks.
A memo circulated to staff said: “Stay home in self-isolation and do not come to the EP; you are asked to apply for teleworking.
“If your job does not enable you to do teleworking, please could you contact your head of unit by telephone or email to agree possible tasks to do from home.”
On Monday, the EU ramped up its warnings for the coronavirus outbreak by issuing a high-level threat rating to the bloc.
A new task force has been deployed in a desperate attempt to combat the spread of the deadly disease.
Five top EU bureaucrats have been appointed to the new committee to manage the EU’s evolving response to coronavirus.
Announcing the plans, European commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “ECDC has announced today that the risk level has risen from moderate to high for people in the European Union, in other words the virus continues to spread.”
The EU’s response will cover travel advice, medical information, and the economy.