Early Warning and Response System
The Early Warning and Response System (EWRS) for communicable diseases in the European Union was created by the European Commission to "ensure a rapid and effective response by the EU to events (including emergencies) related to communicable diseases."[1]
"EWRS is a web-based system linking the Commission, the public health authorities in Member States responsible for measures to control communicable diseases and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are also linked to the system."[1]
In 2020, the Department of Health requested that the United Kingdom should keep its access to the EWRS in order to combat the global COVID-19 outbreak. The request was denied by Boris Johnson's government for political reasons, to preserve the government's bargaining position in post-Brexit negotiations.[2][3]
Sources
- ^ a b Early warning Europa, Accessed November 2007
- ^ Foster, Peter (1 March 2020). "No 10 and Department of Health clash over access to EU pandemic warning system in wake of coronavirus". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "No.10 vetoed plans for EU coronavirus early warning system because of Brexit". Metro Newspaper UK. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
Further reading
- Eurosurveillance article The Early Warning and Response System for communicable diseases in the EU: an overview from 1999 to 2005. (Euro Surveill 2006;11(12):215–220.) December 2006