European governments try to keep a cool head these days about how to deal with the new coronavirus Covid-19, as more and more worrying news comes from Italy. In the last hours, three people have died, according to the authorities of the country, where the death toll rises to six.
Fear of an uncontrolled epidemic within Europe has led the Government of Finland to ask its citizens to "take special precaution" when traveling to Italy.
So far, Italy has diagnosed 229 infected people in five regions (Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna and Lazio). That has led the Italian Government to take extraordinary measures, such as suspending Carnival in Venice and closing schools at all educational levels in the regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Piedmont.
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, which is monitoring the situation closely in coordination with the Finnish Health and Welfare Department (THL), has updated its travel recommendations regarding Italy. Now, it urges Finnish tourists to "take special precaution" on their trips to Italy when previously advised just "normal precaution."
Movement restrictions
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs explains in its website that "several cases" of Covid-19 have been detected in the northern regions of the country and that Italian authorities have adopted "specific measures" and recommendations such as canceling events and avoiding public gatherings. "It is important to follow the guidelines," the Ministry says.
The website also invites anyone travelling to Italy to consult the instructions provided by the Italian Government in their health bulletins HERE
Meanwhile, in Brussels the authorities of the European Union (EU) fear that an increase in infections may lead to an uncoordinated closure of borders by member states.
On Monday morning, the European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, questioned the effectiveness of unilateral border closures by member states and called for unity of action. In that regard, he asked that scientists be heard and recalled that restrictions on free movement are not currently listed among the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).
