Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
WHO declares Covid-19 a global pandemic, Trump suspends all travel from most of Europe
In a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus, US president Donald Trump declared suspension of all travel to the United States from most EU nations for 30 days. The restrictions will apply to the 26 members of the Schengen border-free area of the EU, which does not include Ireland (with 43 coronavirus cases and one fatality) and the UK.
"The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hotspots" as the US, Mr Trump said, quoted by RTE. "As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travellers from Europe."
Trump’s move follows the announcement of the World Health Organisation on Wednesday, which officially declared Covid-19 a global pandemic. The virus has so far infected 126 380 people in some 114 countries, killing 4 500. Italy, which has declared a complete lockdown, remains the most affected EU state and second only to China in size of the epidemic. Kosovo and Montenegro remain the only “coronavirus-clean” European countries so far.
The European response to the pandemic has been described by many commentators as belated and piecemeal. Embattled EU-27 leaders held a teleconference on Tuesday evening to discuss measures meant to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate the economic fallout. In the absence of a unified stance, member states are imposing their own restrictions.
Hungary, with 13 confirmed cases, announced yesterday a state of emergency to stem the coronavirus spread, MTI reported. The government ordered a ban on travellers from Italy, China, South Korea and Iran, except for Hungarian citizens arriving from those locations. The latter will have to stay in isolation at home for 14 days after arrival.
Indoor events with more than 100 people present and outdoor events with more than 500 attendees are also banned. This led to the posteponement of Budapest International Book Fair and the Madách International Theatre Festival to a later date.
As part of the preventive measures introduced by Budapest municipality, passengers will be able to board buses using all doors instead of only the front door to prevent overcrowding. Public transport vehicles will be disinfected more often.
In Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital and largest city, three cases have been identified, one with lethal issue, including an elderly couple with underlying conditions and a medical doctor who fell ill after attending conferences in Spain and the UK. Four more patients who have tested positive are being treated in the cities of Pleven and Gabrovo.
Following the Operative Headquarters’ guidelines, Bulgarian municipalities have introduced measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 regarding hospitals, institutions and events. Public transport in Sofia is undergoing thorough disinfections.
Silesian is spoken by about half a million people in the south of the country
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
The building will then serve as the site for a new museum dedicated to Finnish-Russian relations
The tool helps identify undeclared swimming pools and garden sheds
It will serve as a virtual companion to the municipal network of libraries in the country
In addition, the federal government has launched the National Week of Action against Bicycle Theft to raise awareness of the issue and the new solution
The tests are also experimenting with a charging point that is easier to maintain
Reportedly, the aim of the local government is to curb violence and disorder among the youth
The city thinks that it’s time to update pet-related street cleanliness rules for the 21st century
Yes, you guessed it right, that also includes baguettes and cheeses
Reportedly, the aim of the local government is to curb violence and disorder among the youth
Silesian is spoken by about half a million people in the south of the country
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team