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Keep the pandemic under control until vaccines are widely available. Because, as the EU Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, Stella Kyriakides reminds us, “in Europe every 17 seconds a person loses their life due to Covid. The situation could stabilize, but it is still delicate. “We don’t want to cancel Christmas, but make it safer,” he added. The European Commission has published new guidelines for the winter season, in particular to try to keep infections under control during the Christmas holidays, at which point there is a risk that gatherings with family and friends could turn into outbreaks. “The approach must be strengthened to avoid the three Cs: closed spaces, crowded places and environments in close contact,” explains the Commission, which points out that “simulations by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Ecdc) show that in the current epidemiological context of the EU it is difficult to justify lifting the control measures ”. The Commission is not talking about skiing, but the message is clear. Those of Brussels are recommendations to try to coordinate the response to Covid, because it is the Member States that have exclusive competence in these areas.
School holidays “buffer”
In order to reduce the risks of transmission in the post-Christmas period, the Commission calls for consideration of extending school holidays or “ introducing an online learning period as a way to introduce a buffer period and prevent infections are brought to schools. “In these cases, Brussels explains, it will be important” to specify a date a few days before returning to school in which families with children and educators are asked to return home if they have traveled ” .
Put online
In the case of religious ceremonies, Brussels invites Member States to “avoid large services or use online, television or radio broadcasts, assign specific seats for neighboring families (” domestic bubbles “) to sit together and prohibit the Collective singing. The use of masks is especially relevant during this type of meeting. “
Physical distancing
Physical distancing and limiting social contacts remain “essential” even in the winter months, including the vacation period. Measures must be targeted and based on the local epidemiological situation to limit the social and economic impact and increase public acceptance. The Commission invites us to “consider not allowing mass gatherings and define clear criteria for exceptional events that are allowed, for example. maximum number of people allowed for internal and external social gatherings and specific control measures ”.
Smart work
In view of the holidays, to avoid contagion, it is preferable “to allow people to work from home or from the place where they intend to spend the end of the year holidays a few days before and after, preferably about seven days, when possible”. The goal is to ensure that workers can be quarantined before returning to the workplace. “When remote work is not possible, employers must implement measures that allow a safe return to work.”
Test
Testing remains essential to detect clusters and stop transmission. The national contact tracing apps that most Member States have can help.
Safe travel: flu shot
The end of the year holidays could lead to an increase in travel. It is necessary to guarantee their security and coordination between states: the required quarantine must be clearly communicated in the event of a movement from a region with worse conditions than the destination. In addition, the Commission asks for the flu vaccine if you want to travel.
Sanitary system
States must prepare “business continuity plans” to ensure the management of Covid outbreaks and, at the same time, the continuation of treatment for other diseases.
The psychological support
The pandemic causes a lot of stress. The EU Commission invites Member States to “strengthen public support to combat pandemic fatigue. Psychosocial support must also be intensified. ‘
Vaccination plan
The Commission stands ready to assist Member States if necessary in the distribution of vaccines in accordance with their distribution and vaccination plans.
December 2, 2020 (change December 2, 2020 | 13:31)
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