EU calls for extension of travel ban in Europe

The European Commission on Friday recommended the extension of a travel ban barring non-EU citizens from its members' borders in an effort to prevent a second wave of COVID-19 infections.

The travel ban prohibits travel of non-essential persons into Europe, with the exceptions of long-term EU residents, EU nationals' family members, diplomats, doctors and those researching how to contain the virus.

The call comes as the death toll in Italy, a member of the bloc, exceeded 30,000.

The country is now only the third worldwide to reach the figure, the other two being the U.S. and the U.K.

Globally, the number of COVID-19 cases have gone beyond 3.8 million, with the death toll exceeding 271,000.

Like other regions, countries in Europe are gradually easing their lockdowns as the economic impacts of the restrictions become intolerable.

Some of the countries that have begun easing down their restrictions include Italy, Spain and Germany.

Source(s): AFP