As European countries have moved from lockdown to limited travel, the map of the continent has become a confusing pastiche of color-coded regulations, air conflicting air bridge and test and quarantine requirements. The UK has even turned up different rules for England, Scotland and Wales.
The rules are even more confusing, because each country has chosen its own set of data points to match its rules, such as rolling average infection rate, or positive testing percentages and more.
The EU has now holding up a STOP sign in an attempt to end the confusion by creating a single system of coding areas red, green or orange, based on a single set of standards. Under the system, restrictions would be based on a combination of number of new cases per 100,000 in a 14-day period, rolling number of tests and percentage of positive results. Red, for example, would be assigned to countries over 50 cases per 100,000 and over 3% testing positive.
Based on the results, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control would publish a weekly color-coded map. Countries could then base their decisions on common assumptions and individuals could make better decisions. The map would be updated weekly.
The European Council will discuss the proposal within a week, but adoption by all member states is not a given.
