NPR

EU To Shut Borders As France, Germany Tighten Restrictions To Control Coronavirus

The European Union's extraordinary measure would reverse an earlier reluctance by member states and follow suit with the U.S., which has banned non-citizens from EU countries.
French President Emmanuel Macron is seen on a television screen as he speaks during an address to the nation on the outbreak of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus, on Monday.

With the number of coronavirus cases pushing past 180,000 worldwide, the European Union proposed the closure of its external borders for 30 days in a move to contain the spread of the pandemic, while Germany and France, among the hardest-hit countries in the region, imposed new restrictions on their citizens aimed at increasing social distancing.

If approved as expected, the EU's extraordinary measure would from 26 EU countries. Days later, Trump added the United Kingdom and Ireland to the travel-ban list.

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