Europe set to ban entry into all 26 Schengen countries

A majority of European countries are planning a strict ban on entry into the 26-state Schengen passport-free zone in an aim to contain the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, although it was not immediately clear whether the UK would be offered to participate.

The ban is set to be announced later on Monday and will cover all non-essential visits from third countries except for citizens of Schengen area countries, legal residents and their families.

The five European Union states not belonging to Schengen — Ireland, Cyprus, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria — might also be offered participation in the new arrangement, officials told the the Financial Times.

It was not immediately clear if the status of the UK would be impacted by its decisions to leave the EU in March.

The move was yet another attempt to contain the escalating coronavirus crisis following a sharp rise in cases on the Continent which led to unilateral decisions regarding border control by EU member states including Italy and Spain.

The plan still needed to be signed off by all European leaders.

Diplomats said that the measure had been discussed on a phone call on Monday morning between French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Angela Merkel and the heads of the European Commission and Council.