The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has released the first map of common restrictions of free movement as a way to combat the Coronavirus pandemic in the Member States of the European Union, the four Schengen Associated countries, as well as in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

According to ECDC, an EU agency, these maps will be updated every Thursday based on the Council Recommendation on coordinated restrictions on free movement in a bid to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The maps are based on data reported by EU Member States to the European Surveillance System (TESSy) database by 23:59 every Tuesday or that are available to ECDC from official sources,” the ECDC notes.

According to the agency, the maps will make it easier for the Member States to coordinate the approach for restrictions of free movement in response to COVI

 Aa previously agreed on by the EU Council, the EU countries and areas are marked in the following colours:

• Green – if the rate of cases is less than 25 cases per 100,000 and the test positivity rate below 4 per cent in the last two weeks
• Orange – if the rate is lower than 50 cases per 100,000, but the test positivity rate is 4 per cent or higher in the last two weeks or if the 14-day notification rate is between 25 and 150 cases per 100,000 and the test positivity rate is below 4 per cent
• Red – if the 14-day notification rate is 50 cases per 100,000 or higher and the test positivity rate is 4 per cent or higher or if the 14-day notification rate is higher than 150 cases per 100,000
• Grey – if there is insufficient information or if the testing rate is lower than 300 cases per 100,000

Based on this data, the ECDC has released four different maps on the:

• 14-Day Notification Rate, Testing Rate & Test Positivity
• 14-Day Case Notification Rate Per 100,000 Inhabitants
• Testing Rates Per 100,000 Inhabitants
• Positivity Rates

Combined Indicator: 14-Day Notification Rate, Testing Rate & Test Positivity

14-Day Case Notification Rate Per 100,000 Inhabitants

Testing Rates Per 100,000 Inhabitants

Positivity Rates

Number of Coronavirus Cases in EU/EEA & UK as of October 15

As of October 15 2020, 4,417,239 cases have been reported in the EU/EEA and the UK, with Spain leading the list with 908,056 cases, followed by France with 779,063 cases and the United Kingdom with 654,644 cases.

Next in the list are: Italy with 372,799 marked, Germany with 341, 223 cases and the Netherlands with 195,933 cases up to now, followed by:

• Belgium 181,418
• Romania 164,477
• Poland 141,804
• Czechia 139,290
• Sweden 101,332
• Portugal 91,193
• Austria 59,368
• Ireland 45,243
• Hungary 41,732
• Denmark 33,593
• Bulgaria 26,593
• Greece 23,495
• Slovakia 22,296
• Croatia 21,741
• Norway 15,791
• Finland 12,703
• Luxembourg 10,030
• Slovenia 9,938
• Lithuania 6,505
• Malta 4,048
• Estonia 3,947
• Iceland 3,757
• Latvia 2,942
• Cyprus 2,130
• Liechtenstein 155