business d.w. news live from berlin no entry the european union will not let foreigners in for at least 30 days german chancellor angela merkel says european leaders agreed to the move in a video conference steps have been taken she said to assure the smooth transport of goods within europe. and emergency homecoming a huge airlift begins for german tourists stranded abroad by coronavirus restrictions we have an exclusive interview with the foreign minister about the 15000000 year old operation. and this summer's european football championship is

postponed announces the popular tournament will be held in june 2021. i'm told me a lot of ball welcome to the program we begin with the coronavirus more borders are being closed the european union has started a 30 day ban on nani use citizens entering europe german chancellor angela merkel made the announcement after a series of video conferences with other european leaders she said europe would do what's necessary to protect the public's health and the economy. 1st of august we are on the 1st thing we agreed on was the commission's proposal regarding travel. restrictions will be placed on travel into the european union from states that are

not members of the european free trade area or are not in the u.k. nor them if top of i nor travel will be forbidden in all but the most exceptional circumstances this restriction will be valid for 30 days of. germany will be implementing these changes with immediate effect or and. so forth. did for the public fully elyas joins me in studio for more on this. the e.u. is locking its external borders with other countries can you break this down for us who exactly is affected well basically who defects you just said that there it's you know the external borders with the european union as so that means that within the european union there will be movement although it will be restricted now it was decided we saw it there after the leaders of the $27.00 members decided video conference to push ahead with this now as i said the internal borders aren't closed

but there are restrictions it doesn't affect e.u. citizens who are returning home it also doesn't affect cross border workers and it also doesn't affect citizens a former member state at the united kingdom it also doesn't affect in fact norway switzerland and iceland also and germany said that it basically it will be effective immediately now also one big area of this that's important is the repatriation of e.u. citizens at the leaders have decided that that's very important and they are pushing ahead with that ok now as the economy is expected to be a massive impact as a result of all of this did michael address this she certainly did and obviously this is a big concern for germans under a you members and they said you know essentially not just i'm going to merkel but many of the leaders across the e.u. have been saying that we should be expecting serious economic consequences that's what i'm going to merkel said but they do want to where essentially safeguard the

flow of good stuff very important done in fact goods will be able to travel across these external borders and then within the european union in fact you know the aim is to make sure that goods are flowing freely and also one of very interesting areas the e.u. commission is looking as well at how medicine and medical supplies at whether they should be allowed to leave the e.u. and in fact they do want to restrict. that is something that angle of merkel is very much in favor of ok we've seen restrictions in italy and spain in france should we expect similar restrictions in terms of movement here in germany what we've already seen some changes i mean i was in spain just last week and you know it when you come to germany it doesn't seem like much has changed but of course the schools have now closed there are contingency plans already in place there is this plan already to have double the number of intensive care beds we're seeing at you know normally buildings which are used for fairs

a century being prepared for to be turned into some sort of sort of medical centers and so you know there are plans in place but we aren't seeing the lockdown yet in germany that we're seeing in spain italy france and belgium in fact is also introducing pretty restrictive measures to ok thanks publicly alias. now germany's disease control agency raised its coronavirus risk assessment too high and cold. for stricter measures to contain the virus and germany has almost 9300 confirmed cases of the country is not yet under general lockdown but appeals for people to stay home and avoid unnecessary contact are having an effect there's a curious come in the normally pulsating hearts of burley on tuesday morning oh a few of people than usual were out in about in the german capital foreign minister

heiko must announced another unprecedented measure a travel warning for the entire planet and said no unnecessary trips should be made in addition the government will provide $50000000.00 euros so german citizens currently have brought can come home. ministry of foreign affairs has agreed on a unique program with commercial airlines which will bring back german travelers from particularly affected areas within the next few days. on monday drastic steps were announced to beat the virus shutting many shops apart from essential businesses such as food stores and pharmacies civic life is shutting down schools the actors and museums are being closed nationwide as even children's playgrounds are deserted many parents are having to stay at home to look after

their families the government is offering them extra support that's. what we're seeing is that many families are wondering about money issues they want to know how to deal with a drop in income this is a huge concern it's not a private matter it needs to be resolved and the state has to help that. politicians continue to search for the right responses to this rapidly evolving crisis. so who exactly is eligible for these homecoming tickets chief political correspondent melinda crane pose that question to germany's foreign minister. hoshyar to advance especially affects package tourists who are now in foreign countries and have been caught off guard and whose hotels are closing for people who are having problems getting a plane back home we believe it's tens of thousands of travelers the numbers are increasing by the hour as more and more get in touch with us that's why we're making this major offer available we've provided 50000000 euros for it and will

organize a large number of flights in the coming days to bring these people back to germany at the expense of the federal government is a mention we don't know or france or to bring this in c.v. so do you know how long this will take. this will certainly take several days we started yesterday if all goes to plan and landing permits and flyover rights are granted i estimate that just for today $30.00 to $40.00 planes will set off for destinations around the world to bring back to wrists so it will very likely continue this way for several days we want to be able to offer everyone a solution within 24 hours we are asking for understanding and patience in the coming days will do everything possible to bring as many people who are broad and have problems back to germany. be a mom to look to the show going to trance or to bring dance practice have actually speaking because there may be stranded tourists actually watching how can they get

information on this. i'm fascinated by it as these would be easiest through the foreign ministry's crisis center but the consulates in foreign countries are also ready and available with help and information. from informants who want we'll arrange this in the next few days will announce what planes are landing where and from where they're taking off the information is available here at the foreign ministry on line at the crisis reaction center and people can also ask of the consulates wherever they happen to be before come on now for i know that's one last question at the same time you have announced a travel warning more or less for the entire world what are the consequences why. we want to make it clear to people that it's not responsible to fly abroad at the moment at all and of course we must start

a major operation to get people back since many are stranded even now things won't be getting better i don't know if we will still be able to perform such operations in 2 or 3 weeks if more borders the sealed off if airports are shut down that's why it's not responsible to fly abroad at the moment because no one can say for sure how things would have elements in the days and weeks ahead when no one can say whether travelers can return as planned. feeling has thank you very much foreign minister. now the world health organization has praised china for its efforts to contain covert 19 but all countries here in europe doing enough is w.h.o. spokesman christian lynn my yeah this is a an interesting development now just a few weeks to go. people were criticizing all over europe of the strong measures and then china indeed. as joe was. kind of praising but not on the strong

measures mainly the strong. working on testing in treating and tracing of the patients was a combination of efforts which are importantly it's the. comprehensive approach of trying to limit any for the options for source human spread and of course large gatherings and cafes and bars and restaurants are definitely a risk yes. and on the other hand don't forget to test feet and trace every single day sions that's important so in europe countries have now as we've seen many cases rising up in europe have seen the examples of china and they have shown good results in china hence many countries across europe and maybe across the world are looking at similar options. the well the trumpet ministration is proposing an $850000000000.00 stimulus package that would among other measures send

a $1000.00 check to every american the package would also include $50000000000.00 for the american airline industry a cut in payroll taxes and further loans and guarantees for small businesses the plans come as governments around the world scramble to send direct aid to citizens affected by a pandemic this plan would still need to be passed by the congress. and despite widespread concern about the coronavirus in the u.s. 3 states are holding democratic presidential primaries florida illinois and arizona are going ahead with a ballot which would likely see vice president joe biden pad his lead over months and into bernie sanders ohio has postponed its primary due to cove in 1000 fears there are over 6000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the u.s. and over 100 deaths a pandemic is also massively disrupting the world of sports the french open tennis

tournament has been shifted from may to september and european football governing body for you a far has confirmed that the euro 2020 tournaments will be postponed until next year you know if i was also put all other men's and women's competitions on hold. you a 1st this isn't to postpone this year's european championship to next summer due to the coronavirus was an unexpected domestic football in europe has been shut down for the time being so has the europa and champions league so postponing europe's flagship tournaments according to usa for president it was inevitable. we all know . this that it moved iris the ball across europe. made football and all life in europe quite impossible we knew we have to stop the competitions. we think that postponing the euro is the only chance

to. get the chance to national leagues and through all the club competition to finish their competition you waif along with the football associations agreed to try and complete all domestic and european club competitions by june 30th in case the coronavirus situation improves to prevent a scheduled clash between the newly scheduled men's tournament and other competitions next summer you a full also confirmed that the under 21 european championships and the women's euro both originally scheduled for 2021 will be postponed as well you wait for is currently working on solving 2 issues scheduling and how to deal with the financial impact that some clubs and leagues are bound to face one scheduling conflict for euro 2021 has already been avoided in a statement the 1st president giani infin tino said that features new club world

cup slated to kick off next summer will be postponed to accommodate the new dates for the european championship as well as the copa america. you're watching news on the back of the top of the hour with the headlines visit our website for more. towns my stories. of the people who climbed to me. is to. find i'm not too down. on this of mine. in the centuries they don't mean they created something true russia has had too much resentment destroying.