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Borders and businesses are reopening, even as politicians and scientists warn that new waves of coronavirus infection might be on the way.
By Marc Santora
LONDON — Europe’s internal borders, closed three months ago in a frenzy of panicked uncertainty, are opening again. The uncertainty remains even if the sense of panic has eased.
In the delicate global stutter-step to restart stalled economies and save whole industries from financial ruin, the return of free movement of people across the continent is a significant moment — one fraught with risk as new coronavirus infections surge around the world.
France, Germany and Switzerland were among the nations that lifted restrictions on Monday for all arrivals from nations in the European Union or the border-free Schengen zone. They joined Italy, Belgium and other countries in trying to move to a new phase in the struggle to balance public health imperatives, economic realities and shifting public attitudes.
To help people navigate rules that vary from nation to nation, the European Commission launched “Re-open EU,” a site dedicated to information on travel to and within European countries, including quarantine requirements and tourist facilities.
For Europe, lifting internal border restrictions has important financial implications and deep symbolic resonance. Open borders — free from checkpoints and armed soldiers checking papers — have long been at the heart of the European project to build a continent that is unified, free and at peace.
It took decades of diplomacy and the end of the Cold War to achieve. But by the time the pandemic hit, frictionless travel had been a reality for so long — almost 25 years — that it was easy to take for granted.
Then, almost overnight, borders were closed tight. They are opening now even as the virus remains deeply embedded in Europe.
Of the roughly 8 million known infections and over 430,000 confirmed Covid-19 deaths worldwide, some 2 million cases and more than 170,000 deaths have been in Europe.
In March, the authorities across the continent shut down most travel and public life, cutting off human contact and dramatically slowing the spread of the virus. Most of the places hit hardest have seen significant declines in cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
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