EU unveils virus exit plan, hoping to avoid more chaos

The Associated Press ^ | April 15, 2020 | By LORNE COOK

[Oldeconomybuyer]

BRUSSELS - The European Union moved Wednesday to head off a chaotic and potentially disastrous easing of restrictions that are limiting the spread of the coronavirus, warning its 27 nations to move very cautiously as they return to normal life and base their actions on scientific advice.

With Austria, the Czech Republic and Denmark already lifting some lockdown measures, the EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, rushed out its roadmap for members of the world’s biggest trade bloc to coordinate an exit from the lockdowns, which they expect should take at least a few months and involve large-scale testing.

Brussels is deeply concerned about the damage that could be done if each EU nation charts its own course, given the panic that ensued after the pandemic first spread in Italy, with unannounced border closures that sparked massive traffic jams and export bans that deprived hard-hit countries of medical equipment.

And the EU is very much split in its approach. Despite the ravages the illness is wreaking on their economies, France this week renewed its lockdown until May 11, and Belgium appears headed in a similar direction. Spain also recently renewed its state of emergency for the second time for an additional two weeks.

“This is not - it is not - a signal that confinement, containment measures can be lifted as of now,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters, highlighting the need for clear communication across the bloc as countries emerge from quarantine.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

[Boomer]

Vexit?

[Brian Griffin]

My mom got a white blood cell booster (Neupogen) when she had cancer in 1996.

It was supposed to strengthen her immune system.

[Wuli]

More reason for Sweden and others to join the U.K. in a true “free trade” NON-POLITICAL union.