The European Commission has announced a Joint European Roadmap, a plan aimed at leading the region back from the containment measure impossed on most of its countries. In an official announcement on April 15, the Commission is advised its member nations to move forward in carefully monitored steps. This way fast action can be taken should rates of infection start to rise. <h3><strong>Key Points of the Commission guidelines:</strong></h3> <ul> <li>Begin lifting restriction on a local level. Then move, in stages, towards increasingly wider geographic areas.</li> <li>Coordinated effort amongst member nations to monitor internal and international borders.</li> </ul> <h3><strong>Business Phase In</strong></h3> <ul> <li>Employess should return to work in stages, with workers in 'low contact' jobs returning first. Likewise, less endangered groups should return first.</li> <li>Gatherings of people (school, commercial activity, social activity, and festivals) to be gradually phased. Starting with small groups and slowly increasing to allow for larger gatherings.</li> <li>The Commission will create a 'rapid alert function' to identify supply and value chain disruptions.</li> </ul> <h3><strong>Prevention Plan</strong></h3> <ul> <li>Continuous monitoring of the situation - by governments and private organizations.</li> <li>Awareness campaigns, encouraging the continued use of face masks, social distancing and strong hygiene practices.</li> <li>Preparedness to return to stricter controls, if necessary.</li> </ul> Download the full European Commission statement. <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/communication_-_a_european_roadmap_to_lifting_coronavirus_containment_measures_0.pdf" role="button"> Download </a> Download the European Commission Fact Sheet. <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/factsheet_roadmap_to_lifting_coronavirus_containment_measures_0.pdf" role="button"> Download </a>