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“Today we have a sad record of COVID-19 cases: we exceed 1000. Forecasts say that next week we can reach 1500-2000, and the moment is very ungrateful: the outgoing government will probably not be able to find effective solutions, the new The cabinet will have to wait.The results of the work of the commission of experts created on the initiative are likely to be seen in a week or two.
And we have to act now. What can we do fast? If the summer respite has not been used to prepare for the second wave, your prevention system has not been created, I invite you to follow the models used by many other countries in the fight against the virus, ”wrote R. Šimašius.
According to him, the Vilnius City Council analyzed the restrictions of 20 different countries in Europe and the world aimed at stopping the development of the COVID-19 virus: “This analysis allowed us to draw some conclusions and suggestions, which I present to everyone and send to all responsible institutions early next week.
So what does Lithuania urgently need and what do we propose to the government to do immediately? I appeal to the current and future Lithuanian government and the people responsible: Gitana Nausėda, Saulius SKvernelis, Aurelijus Verygas and Ingridas Šimonytė. I call for the implementation of these Vilnius proposals. “
5 security level restriction plan
We are currently experiencing the aftermath of chaotic decisions – one day everything is allowed, another – local quarantine is introduced with partial but inconsistent restrictions. There is also talk of universal quarantine, but no one knows in advance what it means: would there be the same measures as in the spring, when everything is closed, or will we have a different quarantine this time? In other words, we only have two levels, white-black: either everything is open or everything is closed. Let’s follow the practice of other European countries when creating a plan for restricting security levels 5, defining clear criteria when we have the first level, when it changes to the second, etc.
What will it bring? Both residents and businesses will be able to predict what further restrictions are possible if the situation continues to deteriorate. And on the other hand, as the situation improves, everyone will clearly know which restrictions will be lifted first. At the same time, it can act as a preventive measure – stop blaming people for not doing something, give them all the information about what other restrictions await at the next level of security so that we can all feel responsible and decide – we want to change our habits. temporarily or we are determined to accept the new restrictions. For example, even the curfew that many European countries already have.
How to create a 5-level security plan? I have no doubt that for a small group of experts, this is a one-day job. We can see examples from foreign countries: Greece, Ireland, the Czech Republic, London and others have plans to restrict different levels of security. For those who want to look around, here are links to websites in different countries with COVID-19 information and restrictions: https://bit.ly/37XXu8c. If we do not manage it ourselves, let us ask for the help of citizens: Lithuanians living abroad responded to our request, shared the plans of their countries. Here’s an example translated from Scotland: https://bit.ly/3mEtB0z.
Consistency and clarity of limitations
We urgently need to review the existing restrictions, they are inconsistent, which cuts through public confidence in the effectiveness of these restrictions. If we restrict the chess club and do not allow more than 5 people to gather, but at the same time allow thousands to enter the arenas (until yesterday, but today we still allow hundreds), we must understand that such ambiguous restrictions destroy the entire system. Furthermore, if we compare the current Lithuanian restrictions with the security levels of foreign countries, then our restrictions would be similar to the mosaic of different levels: some of the restrictions correspond to level 1-2, but some arise from level 4 or even level 5.
Likewise, as in spring, we cannot pretend that two weeks are enough to turn the situation around. Some foreign countries do not hide the seriousness of the situation and speak of restrictions for at least one or two months. I think it will be clearer and easier for everyone to plan their time if we talk about restrictions as soon as we talk about their possible actual duration (probably at least 4-6 weeks) instead of extending them every two weeks. The lessons of the first wave already had to be learned.
In the same way, where the constraints can be shorter, let’s answer and adjust. For example, all scientists agree that once infected, the virus can no longer infect others after 10 days. In many countries, it lasts for people with self-isolation, we still have 14 days left, they should be shortened.
The education system does not close
This must be reflected in the 5-level security plan and must be clearly communicated to the public. Even in the most disadvantaged countries, the education system has been left to function; We all understand that its closure would also limit telecommuting, which would have even more painful consequences for the economy. It has to be one last clear front: that knowledge would help everyone plan their time and telework. Yes, the emergence of chimneys, as now, may require the temporary closure of individual classes or groups, but mass closure is not required, even after all risks have been assessed. Kindergartens, primary schools have to function, older students can learn in a hybrid way, some at a distance, others live.
There are also questions about the limitations of non-formal education in Lithuania – we have to evaluate different activities separately, as other countries have done, and first limit groups with physical or riskier contacts (unfortunately, for example, the choir is classified as tal), but if some groups can be safe – let them act.
Reality and reasonableness of restrictions
All existing and recently introduced restrictions must be reasonable, clear and easy to implement. Otherwise, it creates mistrust and destroys the entire system of restrictions. I have already mentioned the inconsistencies in the restrictions, which create a sense of injustice and call into question their effectiveness. I will give another example: mandatory masks in the field, and the exception only applies if there are no people within a 20m radius. And at the same time we hold events with 200-400 spectators. Let’s trust the citizens, let’s tell ourselves to wear masks outside among the people, but if a person walks or runs down the street or in the woods on his own, he can assess for himself whether a mask is really necessary.
We must also be flexible in responding to the effectiveness of the restrictions, without being afraid to recognize which restrictions are not working and adjust them. For example, the party ban in Berlin began spreading clandestine illegals, posing an even greater risk of spreading the virus. Therefore, the authorities reacted and allowed “day parties”, from 2 pm to 10 pm.
Contact tracking app
Lithuania has been creating it since spring, the latest public promise from the NVSC was heard: the application will appear at the end of September. Unfortunately, we don’t have it yet. The vast majority of European countries have applications of this type, they all work on the same principle: record contacts via bluetooth. This is not a miracle elixir, but seeing as it takes time for us to report the necessary self-isolation to those who have been in contact with an infected person, such technology would help take a large part of the workload out of a breaking NVSC. If we still can’t create our own at that time, let’s buy technology from our neighbors, whether Estonian or Latvian, they have had these kinds of applications since the summer.
Clarity of communication of restrictions
This is a very important part of all restrictions: unclear communication (which we have in part in Lithuania) misleads the population, creates confusion and ultimately destroys all concentration. We can also look at other countries, for example in the Czech Republic, such a vague communication could certainly have contributed to its current bad situation. And on the other hand, the Scandinavian countries set an example of how to communicate, let’s learn from them. This needs to be taken into account and all restrictions presented much more clearly on the country’s main anti-COVID-19 website, koronastop.lt.
Suspension of unnecessary elective surgeries and medical reserve
Seeing the rapid growth in patient numbers and the burden on hospitals, we must now stop unnecessary elective surgeries and mobilize a pool of physicians that we can turn to where there is a physician shortage.
“These 7 proposals can be implemented very quickly, the most important thing is to respond effectively to the changing situation. President, Prime Minister, Minister and future Prime Minister: I invite everyone to shrug their shoulders, share information, listen to suggestions and take action. We all have to concentrate, otherwise we will have the Czech Republic at Christmas ”, emphasized R. Šimašius.
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