Impact on daily life: EU member states' measures to address the outbreak

• Author: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (EU body or agency)
• Pages: 19-26

19

This section showcases how COVID-19 continues to affect f‌ive key areas of

daily life: daily social interaction, education, work, the judicial system, and

travel to and within the EU. The evidence indicates that, while Member States

are lifting restrictions in many areas, signif‌icant challenges to fundamental

rights remain.

. DISRUPTIONS TO DAILY INTERACTION: PHYSICAL

DISTANCING

In June, all Member States progressed with further lifting the restrictions put

in place when the pandemic began. Governments and authorities continued

to call for public discipline and solidarity, and for people to maintain the

minimum physical distance.

The removal of constraints in public life came on the condition that health

and safety instructions are strictly followed. Such instructions not only

encompassed hygiene etiquette, but also measures such as curbing the number

of customers in service facilities, limiting opening times, requiring specif‌ic

seating arrangements in restaurants or cultural venues, and installing protective

shields in shops. Facemasks remained mandatory on public transport in almost

all countries, with exceptions for children and persons with particular needs.

Limitations on the number of participants attending an event were adjusted in

many countries, allowing for events with a greater number of participants than

in the preceding months. However, a ban on mass events lasted throughout

June in most Member States.

While general stay-at-home orders have been lifted in all Member States,

specif‌ic orders remained in place in many countries for persons infected

with the Coronavirus or persons living with them. In addition, some Member

States ordered lockdown measures for specif‌ic regions experiencing rising

infection rates:

IMPACT ON DAILY LIFE:

EU MEMBER STATES’

MEASURES TO ADDRESS

THE OUTBREAK

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