Index – Abroad – Hundreds of researchers want a common European strategy against coronavirus

Hundreds of researchers from the governments of the countries of the continent urge hundreds of researchers to coordinate the fight against the new type of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and to develop a common European strategy.

A statement published on the portal of the medical journal The Lancet and on the initiative’s independent website emphasized that no country alone can keep the number of infected people in Europe low with open borders, so it is essential that countries of the continent fight the epidemic together and with common goals. The spread of the virus requires a strong and coordinated European response and clearly defined medium and long-term goals.

The main European objective should be to significantly reduce and keep the number of infections low. With a reduced number of cases, more lives and jobs can be saved, the spread of the virus can be better controlled and the economic, mental and mental burden of the epidemic can be reduced – he stressed in the proclamation, adding that the natural way of vaccination Community acquired immunity is the way out of the epidemic.

The common European strategy must have three main elements.

• The first is to reduce the number of new infections. The goal should be to infect a maximum of ten people per million inhabitants per day. This has already been achieved by several European countries and can be achieved across the continent by spring at the latest. However, this requires quick and tough action, which must be coordinated with all European countries to avoid the “ping-pong effect” of cross-border fluctuations. In this way, borders can remain open.
• The second element is to keep the number of cases at a level of ten or less per day per million people. This requires maintenance and further development of basic infection control solutions, such as the use of masks and the limitation of exposed contacts. The virus pathways should be monitored through continuous and targeted tests to detect an increase in the number of infections in a timely manner, according to the statement, with at least 300 coronavirus tests per million inhabitants every day and local outbreaks with rapid measures. and strict, such as travel restrictions. He drowned.
• The third key element is a longer-term strategy, a shared vision to stop the epidemic. To this end, action plans should be developed at regional and national level, based on local conditions, and targets should be set at European level for, among other things, epidemic surveillance, vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 and the protection of the most vulnerable groups.

If European governments do not act immediately, there will be more waves of epidemics causing more health, social and economic damage, the German initiative said in a statement.

Researchers from 33 countries have joined the initiative, including 22 EU Member States, from Albania to Switzerland and from Portugal to Russia. Scientists from many countries in the Central European region, such as Poland, Croatia and Slovenia, also supported the call to European governments.