Merkel urges EU coordination on travel rules as delta risks rise

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on the European Union to coordinate rules for travelers from areas with outbreaks of Covid-19 variants as health authorities warn the delta strain could cause a new spike in infections.

"We in Germany and Europe are still walking on thin ice,” Merkel said Thursday in a speech to parliament in Berlin, adding that she will address the issue of travel rules with her EU counterparts "very critically.” The comments suggest a tense meeting in Brussels, where EU leaders will gather later for the start of a two-day summit to address the pandemic response and other issues, including foreign policy.