The European Union Council has adopted the amendments to the recommendation on the coordinated approach to the restrictions of free movement in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, as suggested on January 25 by the EU Commission.

According to the amendments, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) should add another colour to the colour coded maps – the dark red – for areas where the COVID-19 case notification rate is 500 or more per 100,000 people, in the 14 days before each update of the map.

“Member States should discourage all non-essential travel to red and dark red areas, while at the same time seeking to avoid disruptions to essential travel,” explains a press release of the EU Council regarding the new changes to the recommendation.

The EU Member States which decide to implement the new recommendation should oblige arrivals from dark red areas to undergo a test for COVID-19 infection before reaching the country, and then undergo quarantine according to the rules of that specific EU country where they plan to remain.

The Council proposes similar measures for areas where the number of new COVID-19 strains is increasing.

At the same time, with the increasing capacity for testing of arrivals for COVID-19, the recommendation also suggests that the Member States can now ask travellers coming from orange, red and grey areas to do a test before departure from their country of residence.

It also suggests the exemption of people who live in border regions and cross the border daily or frequently, for work, study or family reasons, from the requirement of quarantine/self-isolation, and even testing.

“Transport workers and transport service providers should, in principle, not be required to undergo a test. Where a Member State requires them to undergo a test, rapid antigen tests should be used,” the Council also notes.

The EU Commission recommended the update of the Council Recommendation of last October coordinating measures affecting free movement within the EU and Schengen Area, due to the increasing number of infections with the new COVID-19 strains detected throughout the EU territory.

The recommendation was first unfolded on September 4 and was later approved on October 13. The decision on whether to apply the recommendation or not remains the responsibility of the Member States.

On January 25, the Commission has also advised the Member States to impose stricter restrictions on arrivals from non-EU countries, who are permitted to enter the block.  The recommendation includes mandatory testing before departure and the implementation of common European Passenger Locator Form.