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Five academics from University College Cork are among the experts to sign a letter calling for a stronger European response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
One professor claimed that so far the European approach to the pandemic is “uncoordinated and unclear.”
The letter, published in The Lancet and signed by more than 300 scientists around the world, calls for a coordinated response at the European level to the pandemic.
Experts say that vaccines will not help control the virus until the end of 2021 and that if “we do not act now, new waves of infection are expected, with consequent additional damage to health, society, employment and companies.”
Professor Ivan Perry, Professor Gerry Killeen, Professor Patricia Kearney, Professor John Wenger and Dr. Philipp Hoevel are among the signatories of the UCC document.
Professor Killeen said that the European approach to the pandemic to date “has been uncoordinated and unclear. The result has been the loss of lives and jobs.
“Recurring blocks just repeat the pain. With clear objectives and decisive actions we have to anticipate the virus, not hide from it ”.
The letter read: “Lightening restrictions while accepting higher case numbers is a shortsighted strategy that will lead to another wave and therefore higher costs to society as a whole.
“Test and trace capabilities are limited: Only with low enough case numbers can the test-trace-isolation-support strategy quickly and efficiently help mitigate the spread.
“So gentler and more targeted physical distancing measures are enough, and schools and businesses can stay open.”
The letter said that Europe needs a “strong and coordinated” response as “a single country cannot keep the number of Covid-19 cases low; joint action and common objectives between countries are therefore essential ”.
He said that “achieving and maintaining a small number of cases should be the common pan-European goal.”
The letter explained that low case numbers “save lives and fewer people will die or suffer the long-term effects of Covid-19. In addition, medical resources will not be diverted from other patients who need them ”.
He added that the low case numbers “save jobs and businesses.”
“The economic impact of Covid-19 is driven by viral circulation within the population, and economies can recover quickly once the virus is greatly reduced or eliminated.
“China and Australia have shown that this is possible. In contrast, the economic costs of the confinements increase with their duration ”.
The letter also said that planning is possible.
“When the number of cases is low, there is no need for rapid policy changes. This reduces the economic damage and the uncertainty and stress on mental health.
“However, if the number of cases increases too much, preventive measures must be taken decisively to reduce them again, and the sooner the better.”
Experts said that clearly defined medium and long-term goals are needed to fight Covid-19 and have proposed a strategy with three core elements.
The joint European strategy proposed for the pandemic, by the signatories, is:
- Aim for a goal of no more than ten new Covid-19 cases per million people per day. This target has been reached in many countries and can be reached again throughout Europe by spring 2021 at the latest.
- Take strong steps to quickly reduce the number of cases. Robust interventions have been shown to be efficient, balancing rapid achievement of a small number of cases with pressure on mental health and the economy.
- To avoid the ping-pong effect of the importation and re-importation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections, the reduction should be synchronized in all European countries and start as soon as possible. This synchronization will allow European borders to remain open.
- When the number of cases is low, restrictions can be relaxed, but must be carefully monitored. Continue and improve specific mitigation measures, such as mask use, hygiene, moderate contact reduction, testing, and contact tracing.
- Even if the number of cases is low, a strategy for surveillance testing (at least 300 tests per million people per day) should be established so that an increase in the number of cases can be detected early.
- Local outbreaks require a rapid and rigorous response, including travel restrictions, targeted testing, and possibly regional blockades, to achieve a rapid reduction in prevalence.
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