The European response to the epidemic
Germany shut down its borders with France, Denmark, Austria and Luxembourg in an effort to curb the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic at home. Spain and other European Union countries are doing the same. The closure of the Schengen border raises more barriers to individual movements within the EU.
Closing the borders is an impulsive response to the crisis. It is perhaps understandable in an emergency, when national governments are responsible for protecting the population, in the absence of a common health policy in Europe. But it promotes an inward-looking attitude that does not facilitate the coordination of actions across Europe to more effectively mitigate the impact of Covid-19.
The situation requires solidarity, not selfishness. A great number of patients need urgent care and more will definitely be in need of such care in the coming weeks. But beds in intensive...
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