Europe could consider US-style coronavirus travel ban, say ministers
- Authorities seek ‘coherent vision’ on possible restrictions on visitors amid deadly outbreak
- Beijing has accused US of spreading ‘panic’ by denying entry to foreigners who have recently been to China
European governments could consider a US-style ban on foreign visitors who have recently been to China, in a bid to impede the spread of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the health ministers of France and Germany said on Tuesday.
“Indeed, there is the question of possible travel restrictions or at least increased examination [of travellers] at the border,” Germany’s Jens Spahn said at a meeting in Paris with his French counterpart Agnes Buzyn.
He was responding to a question about whether Europe would consider a ban similar to that imposed by the United States, which China has accused of spreading “panic”.
“It makes no sense that a single country takes measures” on a continent with border-free travel between most nations, said Spahn.
The new coronavirus has killed more than 400 people and infected a further 20,000 in China since emerging in December and has now spread to more than 20 other countries.