EU holds crisis meeting on Corona virus - Not relevant with entry ban

On Thursday, EU health ministers gathered in Brussels for an extra-session on the corona virus.

Each member state was given an account of the situation in its own country and the ministers were given an overview of the current situation, including the World Health Organization WHO and the EU's infection control unit ECDC in Solna.

- As you know, only a few cases have been reported and confirmed in the EU, but of course we know that the virus knows no bounds. Continued vigilance is needed, says Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides during a press conference after the meeting.

Several countries have introduced an entry ban from China to prevent the spread of virus, but Stella Kyriakides sees no reason for the EU to follow suit.

- WHO has been very clear that an entry ban from affected countries is not necessary right now and I trust the member states to listen to this. But of course it is up to each member country to decide, she says.

Swedish Minister of Social Affairs Lena Hallengren (S) is pleased with the meeting.

- It should not be underestimated that it is important that all EU countries have a consensus and that they show a lot of work with information, preventive work and with the Health Safety Committee, which in these cases should coordinate authorities and other competences in each member state, says she.

No concrete measures to prevent the spread were presented during the meeting, according to Hallengren, but several potential challenges have been up for discussion. Among other things, how increased dissemination may affect access to medicines.

- This is something we follow not least in Sweden. There are a number of substances that a few countries produce and suffer from those countries, so Sweden and the EU may be affected. The Commission is invited to look into this, says Lena Hallengren.