European leaders 'underestimated' the impact of coronavirus, the EU's top official admitted today as the bloc agreed to shut its borders. 'We understand that measures that seemed drastic two or three weeks ago, need to be taken now,' she added. Von der Leyen had proposed the bloc's Schengen passport-free zone impose the measure, a drastic and unprecedented move, and that fellow EU states outside the zone follow suit. A journalist is protected by a mask and gloves as he attends the EU press conference this evening. EU leaders announced they would be banning most travel into the bloc for the next 30 days with immediate effect

Source: Daily Mail March 18, 2020 08:23 UTC