Covid-19 - Be informed, show solidarity and stay safe!

Last updated on Tuesday, 28/04/2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly evolving, on 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that the world is facing a pandemic due to the severity and fast spread of the virus.

Thousands of people are infected around the world. The European Union (EU) and its Member States are actively coordinating their efforts to find solutions. What are they doing and what can you do to stay safe and protect your community?

What are the measures taken by the EU and its Member States?

The European Commission is coordinating a common European response to the outbreak of COVID-19. It is taking resolute action to reinforce our public health sectors and mitigate the socio-economic impact in the EU. It is mobilising all means at its disposal to help its Member States coordinate their national responses and is providing objective information about the spread of the virus and effective efforts to contain it. You can find more information on the Commission website.

For instance, all Schengen Area Member States have approved the proposal for a temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU, which foresees the closure of the external borders of the territory, for at least a period of 30 days. The EU has also set up a page to inform citizens about their passengers’ rights. The EU is also investing in research projects to test and develop treatments.

Specific preventative measures can differ from one Member State to another mainly because the virus is spreading at a different pace throughout Europe. 

Get informed: check official sources 

A lot of fake news is shared on social media about the virus. When reading or sharing content, always double-check the validity of the information and refer to reliable and up-to-date sources, such as the WHO or the ECDC COVID-19 information pages, and follow the EU countries' national authorities dedicated pages.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is closely monitoring the outbreak, providing risk assessments, public health guidance, and advice on response activities to the EU Member States and the EU Commission. On this website, you will find useful information about the spread of the virus in Europe including a well-done FAQ. 

The European Commission is helping to fight disinformation through close cooperation with online platforms. You can also help by not sharing unverified information coming from dubious sources.

What can you do to stop the spread of the virus?

To fight this disease, every single person can take precautionary measures. The WHO listed 7 actions you can follow to contribute to stop the spreading of the virus. Watch the video to get to know them.

Alongside those sanitary recommendations, most countries are recommending its citizens to maintain social distancing (usually keeping at least 1 metre distance between people) and to stay home in order to protect yourself and others from getting sick. 

#stayhome has become a buzzword, it’s about being safe but also responsible for the larger community. Indeed, if most of us will get through with mild symptoms, a minority will suffer from serious symptoms. By staying home you limit the spread of the virus, which in turn lowers the pressure on our health systems, and increases the life chances of those hospitalised.

What can you do to help others? 

First, you should respect the national recommendations for stopping the spread of the disease. Then, you could support others in this difficult period. Many solidarity actions are emerging spontaneously as people try to support each other, especially those who are more vulnerable. This includes shopping for your elderly neighbours who cannot leave their flats (make sure to keep a distance!), supporting young kids with their homework, etc.

Several countries have called young people to support vulnerable groups and reduce the social impact of the current crisis. This is the case of France for example, that invites young people to volunteer through the national civic service. The dedicated platform recorded 100,000 registrations in 2 days showing how young people are eager to show solidarity!

To help people cope with the COVID-19 lockdown, Italy has launched the Digital Solidarity campaign to get internet companies and publishers to provide free services to help people work and study from home, or just to relieve the boredom of being confined. Free online newspapers, faster internet and access to e-learning platforms can be accessed at the Digital Solidarity page, where companies can also go to sign up to provide their services pro bono.

What effect the COVID-19 pandemic has on EU youth programmes?

There are travel and assembling restrictions in most EU countries to prevent the spread of the virus. This of course also applies to any EU youth initiatives. The EU, therefore, cancelled, postponed or rescheduled many initiatives that were supposed to happen during the Spring months. Below you can find more information on each initiative.

DiscoverEU: is postponed until further notice.

European Solidarity Corps: most activities are affected. There are recommendations for organisations and individuals.

Erasmus+: most activities are affected. There are recommendations for organisations and individuals.

Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange: projects are ongoing.

 

Check the factsheet from the Commission: COVID-19 - essential practical advice on Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps mobility.