About: COVID-19
‘European Year of Rail’ fails to stem train company COVID losses
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt by European train companies, with 2021 figures released by the rail sector showing losses across the board, despite EU attempts to promote rail transport.
EU has world’s safest roads, recorded fewest traffic-related deaths in 2020
In 2020, 4,000 fewer people died in the EU as a result of road accidents compared to the year before, according to the European Commission, making the bloc the safest region compared to the rest of the world and the global average of road traffic deaths. EURACTIV France reports.
Malta, Hungary top EU vaccinations in terms of population share
Malta and Hungary have fully vaccinated more of their citizens in terms of their population than any other countries in the European Union, with Finland, Bulgaria and Latvia currently lagging behind the rest of the bloc. EURACTIV France reports.
Spanish unemployment rate drops to 16%
Spain lost 137,500 jobs in the first quarter of the year, and both the number of unemployed and the unemployment rate have decreased, according to a recent survey published by Spain’s National Statistical Institute (INE), EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Fresh poll predicts Popular Party win in ‘battle of Madrid’
A poll has put Spain's centre-right Popular Party (PP) ahead of its rivals less than a week before votes are cast in a hotly contested regional election in Madrid on 4 May. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
France worried about mental health of its lockdown-stricken citizens
After more than a year of successive lockdowns implemented by European governments to curb the spread of COVID-19, the French authorities are now worried about the mental health of their citizens. EURACTIV France reports.
Spain’s COVID-19 cases ease but pressure on hospitals remains high
Spain has reported a decline in COVID-19 infections on Monday (26 April), although pressure on hospitals and Intensive Care Units (ICU) remains high despite a tangible increase in the vaccination pace, the Spanish Health Ministry has said. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Pandemic has prevented many migrants from reaching Europe
The various COVID-19 related lockdowns and closures of the EU's borders have reduced mobility, particularly of migrants, making the job of the EU's border and coast guard agency Frontex more difficult. EURACTIV France reports.
Small EU countries had more COVID-related deaths per million since pandemic started
While the EU's most populous countries are recording the most overall COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Bulgaria had the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in relation to their populations during the same period. EURACTIV France reports.
Health expert: Routine immunisation should not be put on back-burner due to COVID
A real commitment from all stakeholders and policymakers is needed to support a catch-up immunisation campaign and overcome the difficulties routine vaccination programmes have experienced during the pandemic, according to a key vaccine stakeholder.
Spain expects to have its own COVID-19 vaccine ready this year
Spain expects to launch a COVID-19 vaccine before the end of the year, according to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who described Spanish pharmaceutical firm Hipra's vaccine candidate as one of Europe's most promising to end the pandemic, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
Spain to apply for EU funds to retrain workers on furlough scheme
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to apply for EU funding to help retrain 900,000 workers on government-backed temporary lay-off schemes known as ERTE, Spanish financial media has reported. EURACTIV’s partner EuroEFE reported.
First lockdown in France improved air quality, avoided thousands of deaths
Several thousands of deaths were avoided due to the reduced emissions of air pollution particles during the first COVID-19 lockdown, the French health agency said on Wednesday (14 April). EURACTIV France reports.
Spanish public administration debt hits record €83bn in 2020
The debt of all Spanish public administrations with their private suppliers amounted in 2020 to €83 billion, a record and 39.4% more than in 2016, the Bank of Spain has revealed, EURACTIV's partner EuroEFE reports.
Rail and aviation set for showdown over 2022 ‘European Year of’ status
Rail associations are calling on the European Commission to extend the current “European Year of Rail” designation to 2022 as the ongoing pandemic has disrupted this year's planned activities. But some MEPs argue that next year should be the “European Year of Aviation” to support the struggling airline sector.
Council ready to negotiate on COVID travel certificate
EU-27 ambassadors gave the go-ahead on Wednesday (14 April) to the Council's position in the upcoming negotiations with the European Parliament on the Digital green certificates, a tool conceived by the European Commission to ease travel restrictions in the summer season despite the pandemic.
Spain to focus COVID-19 recovery funds on ecological transition, digitalisation
Spain plans to invest 68% of its share of the EU’s post-pandemic recovery fund in ecological transition and digitalisation between 2021 and 2023, EURACTIV’s partner EuroEFE reports.
Spain to receive first batch of single-dose Janssen vaccine
The first batch of doses of the Janssen (Johnson&Johnson) single-dose COVID-19 vaccine is due to arrive in Spain within 48 hours according to the country’s health minister, Carolina Darias, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
Spanish PM under pressure to lay out next steps in tackling pandemic
Spainish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will this week detail further plans to manage the COVID-19 pandemic amid fierce criticism from the conservative opposition about the slow vaccination roll-out and controversy surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
France to allow mixing of COVID-19 vaccines despite lack of EMA guidance
People below 55 who received their first AstraZeneca dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will receive a different vaccine for their second, the French national health authority said Friday (9 April), despite the fact that there is no EMA guidance on the issue.
EU ‘better off’ with Sputnik V, says MEP as Germany moves to secure Russian shots
Germany's health minister Jens Spahn has said he is prepared to push ahead without the rest of the bloc to purchase doses of the Russian Sputnik V virus vaccine after approval from European regulators and would be entitled to do so, according to the Commission.
No data currently available on mixing COVID vaccines, says EMA
There are currently no guidelines on the "mixing and matching" of COVID-19 vaccines, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) clarified on Wednesday (7 April), as several European countries are now considering mixed vaccination strategies.
No Easter break for vaccinations in Spain as case numbers rise
Vaccinations against COVID-19 will continue in Spain over the Easter period as coronavirus case numbers climb again to pass the nationwide threshold of 150 cases per 100,000 people, placing the country in the highest risk level. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.